Bonded Senior Cats Looking for a New Home Used to Be “Someone’s Babies”

A pair of bonded cats named Isabella and Schumacher are looking for a new home together after being abandoned by their previous owner.
In a post shared on TikTok on August 14, under the username @atlmotherofkittens, the shelter currently looking after them, FurKids Midtown Atlanta, shows a clip of them hanging out together, staying as close to each other as possible to feel safe.
“These bonded seniors used to be somebody’s babies… Isabelle 8 years old and Schumacher 10 years old,” text in the clip reads.
“The senior bonded pair was brought to FurKids when their owner became too allergic to keep them. Isabelle is a little shyer than her brother… but she stays close to him to feel safe. They are truly inseparable and don’t deserve to live their last years in a shelter…”
The poster told Newsweek that Schumacher is diabetic but still very healthy, and his little sister relies on him for comfort and she is equally as sweet.
Although cats are territorial creatures, when socialized properly, they can become very close to each other, becoming what feline experts describe as bonded.
The website of pet supplement company Vet Organics defines bonded cats as felines in a household or colony that have decided to stay together. They tend to rely heavily on each other for resource sharing, sleeping and playing together, and sometimes even hunting. Bonded cats won’t hiss at each other when in the same place. They will peacefully share instead.
Each year, 6.3 million pets enter U.S. shelters, which is an average of 17,260 a day, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The number of dogs and cats taken in by pet shelters hit 46,807 during January 2023, an increase of 1,744 compared with January 2022, the 24Pet ‘Shelter Watch Report’ found.
Around 920,000 surrendered animals are euthanized every year. Shelters are striving to minimize euthanasia rates by promoting adoption campaigns, spaying and neutering programs, and behavior rehabilitation.
The video quickly went viral on social media, getting viewers from across TikTok. It has so far received over 53,800 views and more than 12,400 likes on the platform.
One user, Abby Miller, commented: “I’m sorry even if I was allergic I could never get rid of my babies!! They need a good loving permanent home together.”
Joey posted: “Adopt don’t shop! Senior pets are so loving and still have so much life to live! I adopted my senior cat when he was 14 and now he’s 17!”
Rezwana Ahmed added: “Seniors don’t get enough love. I love them!! I wish I could save them all but unfortunately I don’t have the money for their care like that yet.”
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