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Sandy and Pebble (left) are sisters and best friends, and Bodhi and Luke (below) developed a close bond when they met. All four are residents of the RAPS Cat Sanctuary.

Photos submitted

Be meow Valentine?

By Eyal Lichtmann

Published 11:10 PST, Mon February 8, 2021

Last Updated: 2:13 PDT, Wed May 12, 2021

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Valentine’s Day is when we celebrate love and our connections with our significant others. For many of us, one of the most important relationships is with our pets. The Regional Animal Protection Society is devoted to the idea that animals make our lives, families, neighbourhoods and communities safer, healthier and happier.

But significant relationships happen not only between people and animals but, of course, between animals. Whether they are siblings from the same litter or unrelated pals who hook up and become inseparable, bonded pairs (or larger groups) are familiar to anyone who has witnessed intra-species friendships.

At the RAPS Cat Sanctuary, we see so many examples of tight bonds between pairs and groups.

Despite looking like siblings, and the fact that they arrived at the same time, Bodhi and Luke came to us from different places. Luke came with another cat but, once released, the two went their separate ways. Luke preferred the comfort of a more sedentary lifestyle. He has bonded with Bodhi, who is probably a little older. Bodhi came to us from a hoarding situation and was very wary about contact with humans at first, but the two of them are now ready to approach volunteers, and enjoy some petting.

Sandy and Pebble, on the other hand, have been together their entire lives. These two tuxedoes came to us as ferals and are both siblings and besties. Their appearances are remarkably similar—we can tell them apart because Pebble’s marking is on the left of her nose, and Sandy’s is on the right. Despite the physical similarities, their personalities could hardly be more different. Pebble quite likes human company and presents herself for petting. Twin sister Sandy is more likely to greet visitors with a claws-out swat in true feral fashion.

These are just two examples of the unbreakable bonds between animals. In your own home, you may witness the relationships between your pets, which may range from best friends to sworn enemies. Why some animals bond with each other and others do not is no more mysterious than why some humans don’t get along with particular others. Members of any species can be picky.

At RAPS, we’re celebrating Valentine’s Day by inviting people to sponsor bonded pairs of cats at the sanctuary. Our sponsorship program is an important part of our funding model. For $25 a month ($50 for a pair.) a sponsor helps cover expenses for food, shelter, litter, maintenance and veterinary care for the hundreds of cats in our care.

We also have tribute cards you can send your Valentine, letting them know that a donation has been made in their honour to RAPS (see rapsbc.com). Depending on the person, this may be something they appreciate more than chocolates or flowers.

Happy Valentine’s Day. We hope you celebrate love in all its intra-species or inter-species forms.

Eyal Lichtmann is CEO and executive director of the Regional Animal Protection Society.