This is a long bio, but please read it in its entirety before applying. Thank you!

Aretha and Franklin originally came to us in 2022 as kittens. They have always been bonded.  They were adopted by a lovely couple who adored them, but Aretha and Franklin found themselves back with their foster mom recently, through no fault of their own, after a tragic medical event struck one of the humans. While Aretha and Franklin were pretty kittens, they grew up to be such stunning cats that their foster mom decided to do a DNA test on one of them before they go to their new forever home. Foster mom wanted to ensure that for their new home, Aretha and Franklin, as well as their new humans, are set up for success. She was also curious about what breeds made up such big, fluffy, pure white siblings. While waiting for the DNA results, their foster mom was able to get reacquainted with them to provide a significant amount of information to prospective new families.

Franklin’s Basepaws DNA test showed that these two are mostly Maine Coon and Ragdoll mixed with other “Western breeds.” We believe this is important because it reinforces our feeling that these two are quite special, long-haired darlings who need a forever home that will not only ensure that their glorious fur is cared for, but will also understand and accept that this fur will literally become part of the fabric of the home. Investing in lint rollers will be a must for their family. Humidifiers also help control the static electricity that their gorgeous hair creates in dry winter air. They will need regular combing and brushing, and may even benefit from a grooming each spring. Franklin, especially, has very long hair. Both cats love being combed and brushed, even on their bellies and near their private areas. Franklin is good about nail trims. Aretha does not like it. Surprisingly, for such long haired cats, they aren’t hairball pukers. Aside from their beauty, these two also carry many of the characteristics of their breeds. They are sweet, funny, playful, and snuggly. Franklin will play fetch until your arm hurts. He will also carry around a toy mouse and howl, like he needs to announce to you that he caught some prey for you. Aretha prefers motorized toys and want toys. Aretha is more of a “lay right on you” cat, while Franklin is a “lay right next to you” cat. They are good eaters, with a far greater preference for dry food than wet. 

They will be afraid of new people and new surroundings while adjusting to their forever home. They will not trust their new adopters for at least a few days, so patience is required, but then when they know you, they become your best friends and follow you around like puppies. They are VERY treat motivated, so they will be become your besties quickly if there are crunchy treats or Churu treats involved. They currently hide from visitors to their foster home, at least when the visitors first arrive, so if you want cats that will always greet guests, these may not be the kitties for you. Aretha and Franklin are big kitties! They came back to us a bit overweight, and with careful management they are now at much more acceptable weights. Franklin is 14 pounds and Aretha is 13 pounds. Franklin enjoys being picked up for a hug, which is an adventure because he’s the size of a pony. They are still very young, at around 2 years old. Despite their size, they are quite nimble. They also LOVE other cats. When they came back to their foster mom, they were so excited to meet the resident cats. They ran right up to them without any hesitation. The resident cats were not thrilled, but learned to accept the giant white puffballs that were following them around. While it may be tempting for many people to say “OOOOH, I want the big white cats,” priority will be given to applicants that can demonstrate knowledge and/or experience with long-haired exotic cats. They are regularly featured on their foster mom’s Instagram account, @gloriawarshaw. 

Aretha & Franklin are micro-chipped, up to date on all vaccinations, spayed & neutered and litter box trained. Aretha & Franklin's combined adoption fee is $350. If you are interested in meeting these two beauties, please fill out our Online Application today!