'Am I evil for separating my two kittens if they’re such good playmates?': College student adopts a tuxedo foster kitten but struggles with separating him from his bonded tabby brother, leaving her wondering if she should adopt both

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Sarah Brown • Writer and Editor
Aug 16, 2025 5:00 PM EDT

This pawrent is facing a classic cat conundrum. The tuxedo boy was quickly claimed as a foster fail (he's just that perfect) while his bobtail tabby bestie is still waiting for a forever home. These two are inseparable: napping, snacking, and play-fighting like tiny furry tag-team champions, often leaving their pawrent both delighted and exhausted.

The dilemma? Moving back to their apartment for college means temporarily bringing both kittens along. Keeping them together seems ideal for comfort and companionship, but the thought of eventually separating them tugs at the pawrent's heartstrings. The tuxedo has already stolen hearts, but the tabby's adorable kneads, tiny grooming sessions, and affectionate purrs make the idea of splitting the brothers feel like a heart-wrenching puzzle.

With love, patience, and plenty of cuddles, this pawrent is finding a way to give each kitten the care and attention they deserve while keeping their bond strong. By providing cozy spaces, interactive play, and reassurance, both kittens can thrive, even if they eventually head to separate forever homes. A little extra love goes a long way.

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    Cheezburger Image 10542862080
    via MoniqueGS / Canva

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    Hey all! I posted a while back to ask about the fur colors of cats relative to their adoption rates because I saw myself plotting a foster fail with my first group of kittens. I had three boys, a tuxedo, a patched bobtail tabby, and a gray one. The first two were about 8 weeks and the other was 6 weeks, and from the very beginning, the 8 week old boys, biological brothers or not, were besties.
    via artofmovingon
  • 03
    To keep it simple, 4 weeks in I decided the tuxedo boy was going to be a foster fail because he was everything I wanted in a cat after another cat of mine passed away in February. The gray kitten was adopted as soon as he turned 12 weeks, so now
    via artofmovingon
  • 04
    I'm left with my foster fail and the tabby. They both have such great personalities, but the only difference is my adopted tuxedo kitten likes to be held more than the tabby.
    via artofmovingon
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    Cheezburger Image 10542853888
    via artofmovingon
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    That being said, I'm a senior in college and move back to my apartment tomorrow. I am taking both kittens with me (with approval from my shelter) because I don't want to separate the brothers until the tabby is adopted. I've taken him to every single weekend adoption even
    via artofmovingon
  • 07
    they've had so far with no luck, and the next event isn't until the 23rd. Since we've had the brothers for so long, I'm starting to worry that they'll be upset when they're separated, especially now that they'll be temporarily moving 2hrs away with me into a new space.
    via artofmovingon
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    ADOPT DON'T SHOP
    via FatCamera / Canva

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 09
    Here's the predicament: I don't really know if my family wants another cat. We already have 4 cats including my foster fail, as well as 2 senior dogs (both 15yrs). The senior dogs cause a lot of stress to my family, but the cats have always been a source of comfort. My parents love the
    via artofmovingon
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    tabby, and my dad has even tried to convince my mom just to adopt him already (to no avail). My 3 other cats haven't fully been adjusted to my kittens, but I have been working on it. They're still in the territorial phase right now, and having the tabby is actually complicating the plans I
    via artofmovingon
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    had to introduce my tuxie kitten to my other cat, whom is an ESA for me at school. Since I still have the tabby, I have to bring both kittens with me instead. I'm totally okay having him longer since he's great, but, again, it made me change plans to get my kitten better integrated into my family.
    via artofmovingon
  • 12
    So this is where I have to ask the question: am I evil for separating my two kittens if they're such good playmates? They sleep. together (often on top of me), eat together, and play together. I have no regrets for adopting my tuxedo boy, but I really am concerned about how either kitten will act if/when the tabby is
    via artofmovingon
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    adopted. Additionally, the tabby has displayed signs of trust and affection toward me, such as kneading on me and licking my eyelashes/eyebrows as a grooming behavior. It makes me worry he'll think I'm abandoning him.
    via artofmovingon
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    What should I do? I know cats are resilient, I am just a worry wart and definitely probably anxious because of the school year starting
    via artofmovingon
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    Cunhaam If they are besties I would try to keep them both. A
    via Cunhaam
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    ILikeTrux_AUsux I think if you can keep them together, that's ideal but as a person who's fostered a ton of kittens, cliche as it is, you're right. They are very resilient and as soon as they're in their new space, they'll have so much going on, they won't have time to
    via ILikeTrux_AUsux
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    think about it, much less stress it. Thank you for keeping them together as long as possible. I think that really helps them once in their forever home. You're doing great, keep it up!!!
    via ILikeTrux_AUsux
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    Subject_Can_9942 You may not like what I'll share, but I guess you have the feeling so you're asking here: if you truly love and care about the kittens you'd keep them together. Both will suffer being separated from each other, much more than not being with you. If
    via Subject_Can_9942
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    you need a single companion, you keep fostering until you get a singleton. You just missed a window adoption one of the 3 alone. Let that ship sail, you will recover from it, it's all fine.
    via Subject_Can_9942
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    snoop-hog Hope you can keep them together, especially if they're (nearly) bonded. Maybe I'm too empathetic but I would feel SO bad for the tabby, losing his brother and a caregiver he loves all at once.
    via snoop-hog
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    che... I'd really encourage you to think about keeping them together or adopting them out as a bonded pair. I've been through a similar situation with my cats, and separating them was really hard on the one left behind. It changed their behavior toward both cats and people
    via chestnuttttttt
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    for a while. I worry a lot about how that would affect a kitten. I know you want what's best for your tuxie and your resident cat, but right now the tuxie is clearly bonded to the tabby, so it might be worth considering their relationship as part of your decision.
    via chestnuttttttt
  • 23
    Onbroadway110 Kittens this age do not become bonded in the sense that they would be harmed by being separated. People are being overly dramatic. Is it best to adopt kittens in pairs? Yes, because they're annoying and can annoy each other instead of you. Is the tabby kitten going to live a horrible lonely life because he got adopted by someone else? No, that's insane.
    via Onbroadway110

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foster adopted feline Cats hoomans pets cat owners pawrents college
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