A mother and daughter live with a 10ft Burmese python and love to cuddle him like a lap dog.<br /><br />Mum Kathleen Blair, 39, decided to get a pet snake after her daughter developed a passion for them when she was around seven.<br /><br />Kathleen decided to get a python because the animals are known for being very docile. <br /><br />So, she bought the huge Burmese python from a breeder and named him Biggie Smalls. <br /><br />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.<br /><br />The snake and Madelyn immediately took to each other and the massive reptile even lets her stroke his head like a puppy.<br /><br />Biggie Smalls was nervous about people when Kathleen first bought him but now he loves them both, especially Madelyn.<br /><br />Kathleen, a special education teacher in Holden, Massachusetts, USA, said: "Mads has a calming way with snakes and he took to her right away.<br /><br />"With other people, Biggie tries to hide and often will keep moving away.<br /><br />"The second he’s down on her and knows who he’s with. <br /><br />"He immediately moves his body into a very comfortable position and lets her rub his head."<br /><br />The huge snake lives in a crate in Kathleen's house and he is allowed to roam the house every couple of days. <br /><br />Kathleen even lets him out into the backyard once every couple of weeks in the summer. <br /><br />Kathleen says that people are surprised to hear how tender the reptile is but assures that he is a genuinely loving pet.<br /><br />She said: "I know for a fact he’s content because he would be trying to get away otherwise. <br /><br />"He feels safe and his weight provides her with deep pressure she enjoys."<br /><br />She says that people accuse the snake of sizing Madelyn up to eat her but insists that this is not the case.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />"Most of the angry comments are telling me I’m stupid and irresponsible because Biggie is doing that to Mads."<br /><br />She also thinks that the reputation that snakes, who make great pets, have is completely unwarranted.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />"This means if you’re having a busy week you don’t have to worry about missing a walk."
