True Love
Adopting Bonded Pairs allows the kitties to feel secure quickly in their new home, and makes it easier for you bond with them.
by Linda Hall, Cat Behavior Expert
I’m not taking that cat! I can’t. I already have 6!!!
Those were my words to the owner of our company, cat behavior expert, Rita Reimers. She tends to adopt every stray kitty in need. If they have a leg missing, a wonky eye or are somehow “undesirable” and “unadaptable” they will end up in Rita’s home. Rita saw a post about a kitty that they rescued at the FURR rescue in North Carolina.
Terri rescued a feral colony and posted a picture of this sweet orange boy. He was filthy, had fleas, ear mites, was underweight and … FIV positive. That is just the kind of kitty Rita takes in … but her home was full, so she started sending me the pictures of this sweet boy, named “Boyfriend”.
I resisted until I finally said, “FINE! I will take him if they can get him to me in Ohio !” Well, it “just so happens” that one of the volunteers at FURR is a flight attendant and was going to be an hour away from me soon. Yup! Kitty on board!!! He needed surgery to remove some teeth and we have to keep an eye on him but he is fat and happy now. I named him Kizmet, because it was destiny that we be together. Oh, he is a special cat! I cannot put into words how in love I am with this boy. He is my kitty soul mate!
Seven months after adopting Kizmet, I went to NC on business and I asked Rita to take me to the FURR so I could thank the owner personally. She let me know that “his girlfriend” was still there. WHAT? I didn’t know he had a girlfriend and that he was part of a bonded pair. They named her Girlfriend because she and my sweet boy were bonded. I didn’t know! “Girlfriend” had been there over 8 months and no one would take her. She is GORGEOUS! But … she was is very skittish. She wouldn’t let people hold her or love on her so she was not getting adopted. What’s a girl to do? Of course I flew home with a special carry-on … whom we later named Karma, so we could reunite those bonded lovebirds.
I got her home, put her carrier on my bed and let Kizmet come to see and sniff. She popped her head out and WOW! They kissed and rubbed and loved on each other immediately. Now I have 5 other cats and Kizmet didn’t act that way with them! After a few minutes of their love-fest reunion, he smacked her on the head … just one little smack and they were back to loving each other.
It’s been a couple of years since that day and they are still madly in love. I know there are people who will roll their eyes and say cats don’t love like people do. I invite those eye rollers to my house to see it! After all of this time they are still in love. They lay together, bathe each other, rub on each other and follow each other around every day! Karma (Girlfriend) will even sit and wait for Kizmet while he uses the litter box! Watching them together is one of my favorite things to do. It’s been amazing to experience this love and has taught me so much about cats and their ability to bond and love! They are one of my favorite couples!
Please consider adopting a bonded pair next time you are at your local shelter or rescue.
Click Here learn more about adopting bonded pairs and about feral cat behaviors
Wow, your story or should I say their story of love is so beautiful it brought tears of joy to my eyes. I received my first cat Canx, he is a sealpoint Siamese then I broke off my engagement and Canx and I moved from an apartment to a house. A friend gave me a kitten whom I named Sophie to be Canx’s friend it did’nt take too long for them to bond. She fell pregnant and gave birth to 3 beautiful kittens Lulu, Rosie and Momo they are 3 & a half months Old. Unfortunately I lost Momo Xmas morning this year and am absolutely broken I loved him so much and still do. I talk to him everyday I miss him terribly, I try not to cry when I’m around my other cats because I know they are grieving, its so hard I myself dont know how to deal with the loss of my beloved Momo. I had a beautiful ceremony for him. I am shattered. Thank you for your beautiful story about true love. I wish Kizmet & Karma all the best. Compliments of the Season.
Oh Karen,
I get it! It’s so hard when we lose our babies! They are such amazing creatures! I’m glad you have your sweet family! They are such great gifts!!!
Your stories are so timely. I lost my two cats in February who were brothers and will not even consider adopting only one. Your stories are another example of why I must adopt two again, even though I am on a fixed income this time around. Currently, I am considering adopting a set of kittens, a brother and his sister who are unseparatable. I couldn’t pick up the little girl because she was too quick to get away. Her brother had a cast on his leg, so he was an easy catch. He tolerated me, but didn’t purr. My biggest concern was that their bond was so tight that I would not get the attention I needed. But it seems, when there are two, there is a chance I would get what I need from the little boy and his sister would get what she needs from her brother. Food for thought.
Hi Catherine,
Did you end up adopting the kittens?
Rita