Sharing a bed with your furry friend has taken on a whole new meaning for Riana Van Nieuwenhuizen.The sanctuary worker shares her South African home with not one but FOUR orphaned cheetahs, five lions and two tigers. Forty-six-year-old Riana said: 'I love them all. But they're a handful.'

Riana bought her first cheetah, Fiela in 2006, after realising the big cats were in trouble and heading for extinction with only 1000 left in Africa. She left her full time job working for the department of justice - a position she had held for 22 years - and found temporary employment on a game ranch where she could raise her beloved big cat.

But Riana's real dream was fully realised after she set up the not-for-profit Fiela Funds Cheetah Breeding Project in South Africa to ensure the long-term survival of the cheetah and their ecosystem.

Two of Riana Van Nieuwenhuizen big cats fight to be top dog
in her South African home


Cat burglar? The cheeky cheetah muscles in for a snatch of sarnie


No cheetah-ing: One big cat offers some furry advice.
Happy families: Riana with three of her five white lion cubs Vanilla, Snowball and Snowflake and two tigers


Fight like cat and dog? Riana's two dogs snuggle up with one big cat


Say cheeeeetah: For the ultimate wedding snap couples can have
their picture taken with a cat at the project