Koko the gorilla turned 44 and was given a purr-fect surprise

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. (KFSN) -- A gorilla known for her ability to communicate using a modified version of American Sign Language celebrated her 44th birthday Thursday.

Staff at the Gorilla Foundation in Redwood city say "Koko" really loves kittens. So she got a whole box of them.

The kittens appeared to develop an almost immediate bond with the giant animal.

One even went right to work helping to brush the gorilla's fur.

Koko, in turn, requested that the kittens get the seat of honor. She signed an order for her little friends to be placed on top of her head.