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Although the two aren't siblings, after getting to know each other inside the Richmond Animal Care & Control (RACC) shelter, they were inseparable once they spent time together. It's truly a tale of a sisterhood formed from strife. As RACC Communications Director Robin Young explained, "They were definitely scaredy cats when they came in."
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Veterinarians determined Fluffy-Wuffy Barnacle suffered from a broken leg earlier in her life. When she was rescued by a passerby that saw her, Fluffy-Wuffy Barnacle had a visible injury. Presumably, she was incapacitated when she was very young.
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Luckily, the fracture healed before she was found as a stray, but she walks with a bit of a wonky gait. No matter, because Fluffy-Wuffy Barnacle, a wide-eyed tortoise shell-colored cat, doesn't let any of that stop her from protecting her best buddy and other half of their bonded pair.
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Milkshake, a long-haired black feline, was rescued around the same time as Fluffy-Wuffy Barnacle and housed in the same room. Robin explained that she was "very shy," even more so than her Torti compatriot. Nevertheless, she seemed to take a liking to Fluffy-Wuffy Barnacle and quickly bonded with her.
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Fortunately, once they were cleared of potential ailments, they were placed in a loving foster home to socialize with other cats and get to know one another better. Considering Fluffy-Wuffy Barnacle is much more outgoing, that made it easy for Milkshake to understand she was being cared for.
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The two arrived back in the RACC in mid-August after a six-week stint in the foster home. Robin said they did great together and under the supervision of the RACC-linked volunteers, but it also speaks to how even though dedicated people put an immense amount of effort into rescuing, rehabbing, and rehoming kittens, a big part of acclimating a stray cat back into a home is another cat.
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Bonded pairs often learn to imitate each other. Milkshake has taken this to heart and chooses to be brave in unfamiliar surroundings because she has her adoptive sister.
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Robin said the two, which must be adopted together, need "cat-savvy" pet parents, "someone who's fine with cats that take a little more time." Fluffy-Wuffy Barnacle and Milkshake aren't "instant snug, hug, and cuddle" kittens and will need patience to thrive.
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