Two Rescued Kittens, One Shy, One Spirited, Become Best Friends And Bonded Pairs Looking For Purrfect Home

In cat adoption centers and rescue organizations worldwide, many adorable cats peeking out of their kennels, purring and reaching out with a paw to passersby. Some kennels are often dual occupancy, not just to save much-needed space for other animals, but to facilitate a growing bond between felines.

Bonded pairs have a special relationship and seek a home that will adopt them together. Although cats may seem aloof most of the time, bonding reflects the natural instinct of felines to form a pack, and Fluffy-Wuffy Barnacle and Milkshake are two prime examples.

Posted by Alex Lemieux

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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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