Were furtive glances exchanged across the adoption floor? Was there batting of eyelashes and flexing of muscles behind their cage doors? We’ll never know.

But when Faith, a shy, petite 6-year-old, and Slick, a chill and anything-but-petite 8-year-old, were adopted together last year, it was apparent from the start that these two cats were meant for each other.

They had another couple to thank for uniting them. John and Liz knew they wanted to adopt two cats. As John puts it, “We have a lot of love to give.” Faith’s glamour shot caught John’s eye. Liz also went web surfing and fell for Slick’s longhaired good looks.

Slick Photo Credit: Christine Barton

Both cats had gone through some hard times. Faith’s owner had too many cats to properly care for. Sadly, Slick’s owner became homeless and had to give him up. Since both had lived with other cats before, the match was promising.  What’s more, Faith had tested well in our weekly feline playgroup.

Once home, the two were renamed Nina and Tony, an homage to Liz’s Italian roots. After a few days of recommended separation, they met face to face. Little Nina sauntered up to Tony, who outweighs her by about ten pounds, and gave him a head butt.

A few days later, John spotted the two intertwined on his office chair. “They were in each other’s arms and it looked like a single cat.” The two have been inseparable ever since.

Faith
Photo Credit: Christine Barton

Some people are hesitant to adopt two cats for fear they won’t bond with their human companions. But that hasn’t been John’s experience. “This is the second pair I’ve lived with and each cat has bonded in their own way with me.”

For instance, Nina seeks out belly rubs and likes to plop Ping-Pong balls in front of Liz and John as an invitation to play. And Tony? “He loves lap time with both of us. He will sleep for hours without moving.”

If you’re considering creating your own custom-made pair like Tony and Nina or are looking for a companion for your cat at home, our staff and volunteers would be happy to help with recommendations, based on the cat’s history and behavior at the shelter, including its time in feline playgroup. We can also guide you through the process of introducing cats to each other.

Or if you’re in the market for a ready-made pair, we often have bonded cats who need to go home together. We currently have two bonded pairs available for adoption: BUTTERCUP and TIGGER and WATSON and SHERLOCK.

John and Liz couldn’t be happier with their feline pairing. “We love having them here. We feel so fortunate they are with us.”

There is one point of disagreement between Nina and Tony. Those Ping-Pong balls Nina likes to play with? Tony has no interest in them. “They just bounce off his big head if he gets in the middle of playing with us.”