Did I ever tell you the story about how Pumpkin came to be in our family? Back in my home town I used to live about two minutes from the local Petsmart. So I’d shop there often for litter and toys, and of course I’d also stop in to see what the local rescue was doing. Even though I absolutely adore cats, I was always able to say hi, play with them a little, and then leave with no true heart string tugging issues. But not with Pumpkin. Why? Because he sat alone in a cage that had a sign on it that read, “Please adopt in pairs.”
Someone had adopted his three siblings but left him there by himself. And that was that. He came home with me quite unexpectedly. So when I’m taking photos of the cats at Toronto Cat Rescue, I always try to take photos of the bonded cats together so people are more likely to bring them home together. Unfortunately, it only works on occasion- but with Pierce and Jenks it worked quite well. They were adopted together to a wonderful forever home. I loved photographing this kitten family because their eyes were very unique. Because of their shape they look almost permanently sad. But I’m sure they’re happy now.
10 Comments
shellt
1 Aug 2012 at 3:01 amMy cat is a silver tabby and has the same eyes! Love.
I just discovered your photography and blog tonight and can already say I think my life is richer. Beautiful beautiful work. Thanks
Sara
4 Aug 2012 at 4:13 pmOh my gosh, thank you so much!
Jade Sheldon
31 Jul 2012 at 9:59 amIt absolutely breaks my heart when cats are separated from one another. Cory and I are hoping to eventually adopt two that have bonded.
Kathryn
24 Jul 2012 at 4:45 amaw, Pumpkin’s story is so sad, good thing he found you!
glad these cuties found a home together. 🙂
Sara
4 Aug 2012 at 4:17 pmYes! His story has quite the happy ending, so all’s well that ends well!
Chelsea Martin
21 Jul 2012 at 7:57 pmThank you so much for writing this post. We are reluctant cat rescuers. We started with a long haired Maine Coon we found in the tree line by our house and then introduced a brother (tabby cat) and sister (shorthair black). We weren’t sure we wanted 3 cats but knowing how close the tabby and shorthair black cat are now, I couldn’t imagine them apart. They are best friends and do EVERYTHING together. It’s great and I’m thrilled we brought them home together.
Sara
4 Aug 2012 at 4:19 pmI’m so happy to hear this story, Chelsea, thanks for sharing it with me! Our three cats are pretty inseparable now too- and I just know they’d be so terribly lonely without each other. Thanks so much for rescuing!
Genevieve Morrison
21 Jul 2012 at 1:46 pmThey are so cute! I am so glad someone adopted them both together. Poor sweet Pumpkin!
Gina Guillotine
21 Jul 2012 at 1:02 pmPumpkin’s story is too sad. If you’re going to adopt TWO, then what is one more if they are SIBLINGS? Keep them together!
I’m glad he’s with you and your kindness, and that he bonded with your other cat so he has a friend. He would have been lonely if someone had adopted him into a single cat home.
We adopted 2 beagles from the shelter in May. Their paperwork said they were littermates, but they are clearly mother and son. She is much older than he is, so there is no way she is the sister.
When I arrived at the shelter, I only wanted HIM. I took one look at her and went, “Nope. She’s old and is going to have health issues.” But I really, really wanted HIM. The shelter wouldn’t allow them to be adopted singly, and if someone had brought home the male, because the female is clearly so old, she would have been put to sleep, I’m sure of it.
So, they live with us now. And she does have problems with her eyes, she’s probably getting glaucoma and will lose her eyeballs at some point. She’s also so very fat she is swaybacked, so we are working on trying to get her to lose weight.
They’re very loving and sweet, and clearly bonded to each other, even though he is a bit more happy when she isn’t around (she’s had overnight visits to the vet), but it’s good to have them both. They’re sweet and since our cats HATE the dogs, it’s nice that the cats have each other and the dogs have one another.
Sara
4 Aug 2012 at 4:20 pmPumpkin’s story is sad but it does have a happy ending, so there’s comfort in that.
Thank you for sharing your rescue story, I’m glad that you adopted them both together because you’re probably right- if he’d been adopted alone, she probably wouldn’t have lasted very long on her own. Bless your heart for rescuing them both!