Family live with 10ft Burmese python and love to cuddle him like a lap dog

A mother and daughter live with a 10ft Burmese python and love to cuddle him like a lap dog.

Mum Kathleen Blair, 39, decided to get a pet snake after her daughter developed a passion for them when she was around seven.

Kathleen decided to get a python because the animals are known for being very docile.

So, she bought the huge Burmese python from a breeder and named him Biggie Smalls.

When they bought him in 2020, Biggie Smalls was less than a metre long and now the reptile is 10 feet long and weighs 18 kilograms.

The snake and Madelyn immediately took to each other and the massive reptile even lets her stroke his head like a puppy.

Biggie Smalls was nervous about people when Kathleen first bought him but now he loves them both, especially Madelyn.

Kathleen, a special education teacher in Holden, Massachusetts, USA, said: "Mads has a calming way with snakes and he took to her right away.

"With other people, Biggie tries to hide and often will keep moving away.

"The second he’s down on her and knows who he’s with.

"He immediately moves his body into a very comfortable position and lets her rub his head."

The huge snake lives in a crate in Kathleen's house and he is allowed to roam the house every couple of days.

Kathleen even lets him out into the backyard once every couple of weeks in the summer.

Kathleen says that people are surprised to hear how tender the reptile is but assures that he is a genuinely loving pet.

She said: "I know for a fact he’s content because he would be trying to get away otherwise.

"He feels safe and his weight provides her with deep pressure she enjoys."

She says that people accuse the snake of sizing Madelyn up to eat her but insists that this is not the case.

She explained: "At one point in time someone made up a story about a snake sleeping next to its owner and the snake stopped eating because it was sizing her up.

"Most of the angry comments are telling me I’m stupid and irresponsible because Biggie is doing that to Mads."

She also thinks that the reputation that snakes, who make great pets, have is completely unwarranted.

Kathleen added: "I absolutely recommend a snake, as they are solitary creatures, they do not require human interaction although many seem to really enjoy it.

"This means if you’re having a busy week you don’t have to worry about missing a walk."