These irresistible images of a baby otter bonding with a litter of kittens prompted a unanimous 'aww' in the Stylist office when we stumbled across them this morning.

The six-week-old infant had a tough start in life; he was the only one of its three siblings to survive after the suspected death of their mother.

He was taken to the Secret World Rescue Centre in Somerset, southwestern England, where staff became concerned that he was lonely. Deciding to steer him away from a life of solitude, they brought in four orphaned kittens that were also being cared for at the centre.

Happily, all five animals immediately bonded and now spend all their time playing together before snuggling up for a nap.

Spend some time fawning over the images above, which are surely enough to brighten even the darkest of days in the office.

Picture credits: Rex Features