As far as lifelong friendships go, Muschi thinks her  large and loveable friend Maeuschen is  the cat's pyjamas.

The feline, which struck up the unlikely friendship with the 40-year-old Asian bear eight years ago, now can't bear to be apart from her friend.

In fact, the pair are so close that zookeepers at Berlin Zoo had to reunite them after Muschi, or 'pussy' in German, pined for Maeuschen - 'little mouse' - after they were separated.

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Best friends Muschi, the cat and Maeuschen the bear are so close that zookeepers in Berlin have had to reunite the pair after they were separated

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The two lovable chums have become a star attraction at the zoo since striking up a friendship eight years ago

The pair were split up last October when the bear was locked in a cage while her living space was enlarged.

The distraught cat soon caught the attention of zoo keepers after she remained sitting outside the bear's cage pining for her friend.

This week, keepers took the unusual step of  allowing the feline into the cage with her shaggy-haired pal.

'They greeted each other and had a cuddle and now they're happy,' said Heiner Kloes, a member of the zoo's management board.

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The friends share everything including an enclosure and food at Berlin Zoo

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'The cat has a real fan club, mostly among our older, regular visitors.'

But where Muschi, a normal black domestic cat, came from remains a mystery.

'She appeared from nowhere in 2000 and we decided to leave them together because they got on so well,' Mr Kloes said.

'They sunbathed together and shared meals of raw meat, dead mice, fruit and bread.'

The enlarged enclosure will reopen in the spring.