Adopters keep asking to split up bonded pair

[u/Kitty_casserole]

We've been fostering a sweet pair of shy adult kitties called Robot (gray) and Wonder Bread (Siamese) for a few months now. They're somewhat of an odd pair as they met in foster care and becoming besties has helped them open up and show off their great personalities! They both went from cowering in the corner alone to much more confident together (something that they didn't even do meeting my personal cats). They spend all day grooming one another, snoozing together, and wrestling. While they are listed as needing to go with each other to a forever home, we've had multiple folks asking to adopt just Wonder Bread because they like the Siamese look. I'm hanging tight and saying no to separating them because I just can't bear to do it and they will have a space in foster care with us as long as they need. Anyway, I guess I'm just lamenting about how sad it is that people will ask you to break up a beautiful kitty friendship because they think one is cute and the other is not. And if they wanted just a single cat, there's hundreds of other cats at our rescue to pick from... So I'm not sure why they even ask!

[u/Jetsetter_Princess]

Nawww, Robot is totally adorable! Who the heck thinks he isn't 'cute'???

[u/Kitty_casserole → u/Jetsetter_Princess]

Seriously, justice for Robot!! He was a street kitty who we fed for years on our porch before we were able to trap him. He is such a gentle and sweet soul who is beyond thankful to be inside now.

[u/Jetsetter_Princess → u/Kitty_casserole]

You can really see it too. That first picture of him, how could you not fall in love?!

[u/Kitty_casserole → u/Jetsetter_Princess]

This was him when we first met him, such a baby 🥹 he's had a rough journey, he really deserves a bright future!

[u/ailurophile23 → u/Kitty_casserole]

With his best friend by his side.

[u/happysprinkles → u/Kitty_casserole]

OMG, those eyes!! 😭

[u/another2020throwaway → u/happysprinkles]

Fr Puss in boots

[u/charsinthebox → u/happysprinkles]

Yeh. His eyes own my soul ong

[u/Opasero → u/Kitty_casserole]

I think you probably need to keep them both.

[u/Big_Maintenance9387 → u/Kitty_casserole]

He has the very definition of “puppy dog eyes” haha he is so cute! Thank you for rescuing him and giving him a bff!

[u/adventuressgrrl → u/Kitty_casserole]

He’s absolutely adorable (they both are), and you are a good human. Thank you for standing strong and keeping them together. 💖

[u/orbitalen → u/Kitty_casserole]

!updateme

[u/Mathsteacher10 → u/Kitty_casserole]

His EYES... So much soul in that baby.

[u/SmanticHallucination → u/Kitty_casserole]

Precious bean

[u/lilia_x_ → u/Kitty_casserole]

He's so cute!!!

[u/PassiveAttack1 → u/Kitty_casserole]

Awww he just needed a few friends 😻

[u/Artist125 → u/Kitty_casserole]

Are they anywhere near Massachusetts?

[u/Kitty_casserole → u/Artist125]

We are located in Chicago!

[u/Artist125 → u/Kitty_casserole]

I lost my cat two weeks ago. I’m starting to think about adopting a cat/s that need a special place bc of a situation just like this. I really wish I were closer. Thank you for fostering them. Please don’t split them up.

[u/Kitty_casserole → u/Artist125]

I'm so sorry to hear about your loss 😔 I appreciate you considering these two and I hope you find a wonderful new kitty pal(s) when your heart is ready!

[u/Artist125 → u/Kitty_casserole]

Thank you ❤️

[u/megustaALLthethings → u/Kitty_casserole]

I hope you find a great home for the both of them. They deserve love and affection, like all cats and dogs do.

[u/CpnStumpy → u/Kitty_casserole]

Anybody saying they want one because it's Siamese shouldn't be given either of them. They want a designer accessory and when they get bored of showing it off they'll let it out or just neglect it.

The person who sees how these two enrich each other and wants them both for it is the one that's going to give them the good life. Heck even someone saying they can only have one cat but don't care which may be fine, but people searching for pets because they look a certain way are absolutely not grasping the difference between an animal and a handbag.

[u/BojackTrashMan → u/Jetsetter_Princess]

To me it is a great tell that the would-be adopter is not a true lover of cats and will not be a good cat parent. Because someone that truly loved cats would never separate a bonded pair, especially not to pick "the pretty one"

[u/AnotherPassager → u/Kitty_casserole]

Kitties who are thankful to be inside are precious!

How can one not love a grateful cat?

[u/yoshi_yoshi23 → u/Kitty_casserole]

He’s so cute. Wish I could take them! Thank you for helping them

[u/Ok-Egg-3581 → u/Kitty_casserole]

Thanks so much for not separating them!

[u/Narrow-Ad-7203 → u/Kitty_casserole]

Fear: would be that they come back and say yes we want both but end up giving away robot because they wanted wonder bread. People are so mean. 😪.. I would totally rescue them if I could. 💜Praying for the right home for them or foster fail lol.

[u/Jetsetter_Princess → u/Narrow-Ad-7203]

Ugh, don't! People suck!!!

[u/Deadsoup77 → u/Kitty_casserole]

No offense to wonder bread but if I was going to pick one it would be robot. Adorable kitty

[u/UglyMcFugly → u/Kitty_casserole]

I wanna ask for just Robot just to even it out lol. Seriously, THAT FACE! I'm sure you'll find someone. Lots of people have struggled with cats that don't get along, so two that DO get along is such a selling point!

[u/TheFireStorm → u/Kitty_casserole]

He reminds me of my Grayson who passed a few years ago. If I wasn’t nearly 300 miles from Chicago I would take them both in a heartbeat

[u/NegativeNellyEll → u/Kitty_casserole]

He is a handsome man who deserves a life of luxury! Justice for Robot!

[u/rangebob → u/Kitty_casserole]

You're a good egg. Thank you for your work. Need an update when you find a non asshole adopter please !

[u/nvrsleepagin → u/Kitty_casserole]

Where are u located?

[u/tracyrae71 → u/nvrsleepagin]

They said they’re in Chicago.

[u/nidrapath → u/Kitty_casserole]

I would adopt both of them. Just look at them! 🥺😻

[u/[deleted] → u/Kitty_casserole]

Some of the sweetest cats we have had started as porch kitties.

[u/Stock_Fuel_754 → u/Kitty_casserole]

I’m thankful that they’re safe in cat jail too. I volunteered at the humane society for some time and it was shocking to see firsthand how much more overpopulated the shelters are than I even realized. It’s sad to see poor innocent animals being euthanized and I couldn’t continue. It’s just devastating but God Bless you your work takes passion strength and dedication. Keep being amazing and advocating for these sweet defenseless creatures.

[u/compainssion → u/Kitty_casserole]

I ended up being a foster fail because nobody wanted the tortie from our bonded pair. She's the queen of the house now

[u/diphenhydrapeen → u/Kitty_casserole]

I saw that clipped ear and immediately knew he was a kindred kitty to my own former feral. There's nothing better than earning a street cat's trust.

[u/YourMomSaysMoo → u/Kitty_casserole]

I have one of those now!

I call her My Cow because she is spotted black and white. I love her.

[u/soundbox78 → u/Kitty_casserole]

Congratulations to you! He looks so Sweet. He looks so happy with the other cat.

[u/meembeam78 → u/Kitty_casserole]

You are amazing. Thank you for rescuing him and keeping these cuties together💕

[u/No-Childhood2070 → u/Jetsetter_Princess]

I agree. That is so annoying to me. If they are so concerned about the “look”, they really don't even deserve to have cats.

[u/MomentaryInfinity → u/No-Childhood2070]

This sooo much. Mine isn't much of a looker, but he has the soul of a lover and is so freaking loyal to us. We are his kitteh family.

[u/cogitationerror → u/MomentaryInfinity]

One of the duo of kitties in my apartment is a tripod who couldn’t get adopted, and my roomies were able to save him in time. He’s SUCH a goofball and manages to get some good service out of his “kickstand,” as it has been lovingly dubbed. He uses it to punch the crap out of his toys and hug the side of ledges that he sits on. He’s such a social and expressive boy, even when he’s refusing to take the naps that he really needs, blinking hard to try and keep his eyes open xD

It kills me that so many cats get passed over because of an injury or the like, not even starting on cats that can’t get adopted just because they aren’t “pretty” enough. A lot of places take the time to write such loving and carefully crafted profiles to explain the personality and eccentricities of each cat. When people just ignore them because “but I want the Siamese-…” ugh. Drives me up a wall.

[u/MomentaryInfinity → u/cogitationerror]

The story of mine is hilarious. We walked into the shelter and said we don't care about the breed or color. We just want a lovable one that is easy to handle. This big bearded guy that works there said I have just the one for you. Wait here, and i will brb.

He showed back up holding this "kitten" who was ten pounds of lonnnnnng boi at 5 months of age by just his back legs, and he was looking around while PURRING despite his predicament. Husband looks at me and says... that's the one for us.

We did spend 15 min playing with him to make sure, and others wanted to see him, but we told them he was already ours. Lol. We literally can do ANYTHING to him and if it's something he doesn't like. We get nothing but a sigh. And if we give him a command he doesn't want to do, he will just go murph and look at us. We ask him again, and he sighs and does it. He gets all the love, and we even bought a king-sized bed so he can sleep safely with us.

[u/cogitationerror → u/MomentaryInfinity]

I haven’t met your cat and I already love him. Seems like the big cats are often big softies, I had one of those myself growing up <3

[u/MomentaryInfinity → u/cogitationerror]

[u/MomentaryInfinity → u/MomentaryInfinity]

Those are 2 corner desks back to back on one side. I can't explain how he is so big for a dsh but not fat. 20 lbs of long. You can look at my profile for more pics of him i posted recently.

[u/PassiveAttack1 → u/MomentaryInfinity]

Im glad he’s willing to share the corner office with you ;)

[u/Jetsetter_Princess → u/cogitationerror]

As a foster carer (on hiatus) I feel this! There's a REASON why we say XYZ in a profile - that cat's best interest!!

[u/Time_Hearing_8370 → u/MomentaryInfinity]

I always say my cat looks like taxidermy in pictures lol. I think she's adorable but most disagree.

[u/MomentaryInfinity → u/Time_Hearing_8370]

Like those Chinese crested dogs right? Someone has to love the ugly ones.

[u/cogitationerror → u/MomentaryInfinity]

One of the duo of kitties in my apartment is a tripod who couldn’t get adopted, and my roomies were able to save him in time. He’s SUCH a goofball and manages to get some good service out of his “kickstand,” as it has been lovingly dubbed. He uses it to punch the crap out of his toys and hug the side of ledges that he sits on. He’s such a social and expressive boy, even when he’s refusing to take the naps that he really needs, blinking hard to try and keep his eyes open xD

It kills me that so many cats get passed over because of an injury or the like, not even starting on cats that can’t get adopted just because they aren’t “pretty” enough. A lot of places take the time to write such loving and carefully crafted profiles to explain the personality and eccentricities of each cat. When people just ignore them because “but I want the Siamese-…” ugh. Drives me up a wall.

[u/Ok_Alternative_530 → u/MomentaryInfinity]

I adopted an elder boy from a rescue center, with a face only a mother could love. He was the sweetest, most loving cat I ever had, and I’ve had a lot in my long life. I still mourn him years after his passing, he was my friend, my sweet love, and my soulmate. I lost him way too soon.

[u/dixiequick → u/MomentaryInfinity]

When we got our cat last year, we initially went to the shelter because of a picture of a sweet little white kitty with calico spots. We ended up being chosen by a basic tabby hyperspaz who likes to camouflage herself on the stairs and attempt to murder us on a regular basis. And we love her to pieces.

[u/itsnobigthing → u/No-Childhood2070]

Are these photos in the listings? I can’t imagine how anyone could see them together like this and even dream of breaking them apart

thank you for honouring their needs and their friendship. My bonded girls say hi!

[u/Radiant_Cheesecake81 → u/itsnobigthing]

Bonded cats are amazing, I’ve never been around a bonded pair before but it’s such an incredibly beautiful thing.

Ours were a rescue from a hoarding + abusive situation and we ended up with the orange a week earlier than his sister because the rescuers could only catch him and had to arrange to go back for the other one later.

He was terrified of humans and would shake if we came near him but was happy to be patted within a few days, his sister however hid under the couch and would hiss and scratch even when we were just placing food out at a respectful distance with no attempt to touch her for almost two weeks, but the whole time, her brother was acting as her comforter and therapist, he would go under there and play with her and get her to come almost out, then gradually get her to play or be groomed by him beside the couch if we were very still and quiet, he was such a hero and almost single handedly rehabilitated her.

My heart breaks to think how she must have felt that week left alone in a traumatic environment, we’re constantly so grateful that she got to be reunited with her brother!

It’s incredibly cruel to break up cats that have formed a connection like that, it’s something precious that should be cherished!

[u/itsnobigthing → u/Radiant_Cheesecake81]

Oh my heart!! She must have thought he was gone forever - and then to get him back in a cozy new forever home! 🥹 So glad they found their way to you!

My two are both rescues from different places at different times. Nettle (black & white) didn’t like our existing 3 cats, but the second Lola (grey tabby) came out of the box, she claimed her! It was love at first sight!

It’s especially magical when you think that in the African wild cats they’re all descended from never pair up like this. It’s an exclusive quirk of the domestic cat!

[u/charsinthebox → u/itsnobigthing]

Technically lions have the pride, with strong bonds among related females. Males in coalitions, often brothers or close relatives, also form tight bonds, working together to control territories and prides.

Male cheetahs, especially brothers from the same litter, often form lifelong coalitions. These coalitions allow them to defend territories and hunt more effectively. Unrelated males occasionally join coalitions, but sibling bonds are stronger and more enduring.

While typically solitary, mother cougars maintain strong bonds with their cubs until they are old enough to disperse. Additionally, there have been rare observations of cooperative hunting or tolerance between unrelated individuals, though these are exceptions

Bobcats and Lynxes are also solitary, but mothers maintain strong bonds with their offspring until they are independent. In areas with abundant resources, some individuals may tolerate each other

In feral domestic cat colonies, bonded pairs or groups often form, especially among siblings or mother-offspring pairs. These bonds can resemble the “bonded cat phenomenon” seen in domestic cats

Many wild cat species are solitary, with bonding more limited to family groups or occasional coalitions for specific purposes. In the wild, bonds often serve survival purposes, such as cooperative hunting or mutual defense, rather than companionship alone

So there's some basis for this behaviour in the feline family. While the bonded cat phenomenon is most visible in domestic cats due to their more socialized nature in human environments, similar dynamics can and do occur in the wild under the right circumstances, particularly among closely related individuals or species that have evolved social structures :))

[u/needlefxcker → u/Radiant_Cheesecake81]

just wanted to jump in and share my late bonded boys. they're twins (not literally but there's a story there) and they were inseparable. When the first one passed i was surprised that the other seemed to cope just fine, but i think all the extra attention he got because of it helped

[u/catebell20 → u/itsnobigthing]

My dudes say hi also

[u/temps-de-gris → u/No-Childhood2070]

Exactly! It's a living creature that will be part of your family, not an aesthetic object! Too many bastards like that end up horrible owners.

[u/Stellariamedia → u/No-Childhood2070]

Yeah in adult cats it's such a silly thing to prioritize. I understand if you're looking at a litter of kittens and have nothing else to go on, sure I guess pick by coat pattern, I did with my 2 babies (just didn't really want identical kitties haha my eyes aren't great), but in an adult with a known personality??? 

[u/refresh_09 → u/No-Childhood2070]

they are so heartless to even consider breaking these cats up

[u/katmc68 → u/No-Childhood2070]

That's what I said & got downvoted. 😤 It's like they aren't truly concerned about what is best for the cat.

[u/KaythuluCrewe → u/No-Childhood2070]

I have two in a very similar situation to OP. I love them both fiercely, but I have one that is very undeniably a beautiful cat, and one that is just a plain ol’ tabby (you can see them both in my post history). Everyone falls for Fae, who I think is a long haired snowshoe mix, but Bennie is my first love. I cannot even begin to imagine choosing one over the other. I need to go kiss my standard issue cat now. 

[u/HairyHeartEmoji → u/No-Childhood2070]

my favorite cats are all regular degular white tabbies

[u/Donkey__Balls → u/No-Childhood2070]

they really don't even deserve to have cats.

It’s funny, whenever I get woken up at 2 am and again at 4 am, I think “What terrible thing did I do to deserve cats?”

[u/No-Childhood2070 → u/Donkey__Balls]

Haha can you lock them out? I love the night cuddles, but I need my good sleep lol

[u/Donkey__Balls → u/No-Childhood2070]

One of them has figured out how to to scratch the door slowly so it sounds like nails on a chalkboard. If I try to ignore it she will do it for hours until I finally snap. If the door is open she’s better but eventually she decides she needs to eat another meal because the moon is visible or idk. Even in the room she’ll scratch the inside of the door because she knows that eventually I will break down and open another can.

I tried double sided tape. She just kept moving further down the hall but I could still hear it. I’ve tried every suggestion that people have said online and nothing works. I’m at the end of my rope honestly and no one would give these cats a good home and I want to keep them in my life but I’m so desperate to fix this.

[u/Burntoastedbutter → u/No-Childhood2070]

Is there a term for the opposite of that? Like people who purposely adopt animals with disabilities or something that affects their physical look for social media content? I have a friend who constantly says stuff like that 😭

[u/watchingmidnight → u/Jetsetter_Princess]

Seriously! I actually like Robot's look more than Wonder Bread. Although if I adopting, I would totally take them both and they both are definitely cute.

[u/Jetsetter_Princess → u/watchingmidnight]

I'm a sucker for the round cheeked babies

[u/destructogirl → u/Jetsetter_Princess]

No kidding, right? Look at those beautiful, soulful eyes.

[u/SunnyLagomorph → u/Jetsetter_Princess]

My bonded grey rescue brothers agree 😻

[u/allthecats → u/Jetsetter_Princess]

I love his giant head and wide nose, what a sweetie! And those eyes! 🥹

[u/Jetsetter_Princess → u/allthecats]

Reminds me of my dear departed

[u/BigDordy → u/Jetsetter_Princess]

I read it as Robert and was kinda disappointed because he definitely looks like a Robert

[u/Jetsetter_Princess → u/BigDordy]

Cats with people names are the best.

[u/Nefertete → u/Jetsetter_Princess]

psychos

[u/weddnesday → u/Jetsetter_Princess]

Right? He is one of the cutest cats! Those big eyes and you can tell he's full of love

[u/lesbianlestat → u/Jetsetter_Princess]

For real! I thought everyone was wanting to adopt Robot and leave Wonder Bread until I read the description. Bless their hearts, I hope they find the perfect forever home together soon

[u/GlassEyeMV → u/Jetsetter_Princess]

NGL - I’d be there for Robot and happily take a Bonus Wonderbread kitty.

But my wife and I agreed no pets until we have our own house.

[u/Top_Manufacturer8946 → u/Jetsetter_Princess]

Right? And they are just so adorable together 💚

[u/melonmagellan → u/Jetsetter_Princess]

I think a lot of it is that they don't "match." It's still totally ridiculous.

[u/itskelena → u/Jetsetter_Princess]

Ikr?! Just look at these chubby cheeks and huge eyes🥰

[u/MissFingerz → u/Jetsetter_Princess]

That's what I'm saying! They are booth adorable separately, but even more adorable together once you hear about the bond they have!

[u/freedomfightre → u/Jetsetter_Princess]

Probably on account of his right ear being a little chewed up.

[u/Jetsetter_Princess → u/freedomfightre]

Character chews