Bonded pair: Baloo and Pip

*Please read entire bio to see if you are a match for what we and our family members are looking for before inquiring*<br/><br/>Sisters, sisters. Won’t you meet our bonded pair of sisters? Say “Hi” to Baloo and Pip! Before we tell you more about this dynamic duo, we want to tell you the story of how they arrived at Milwaukee Pets Alive.<br/><br/>In the fall of 2018, a little black cat wandered into our Director’s yard. She named her Baba, built her an insulated outdoor shelter, and worked every day to earn her trust in hopes of providing her a better life than the one lived outdoors. Baba did trust her – so much so that she brought her her 3, 8 week old kittens! All of them had colds and the frigid temps and snow weren’t helping. We were so lucky to have the perfect match in a foster home ready to take them in and get them healthy. As the kittens were older and had different socialization needs than their mom and also because we weren’t sure if Baba had any other kittens out there that hadn’t revealed themselves yet and needed her to survive in the cold, we decided to search for a separate foster home for Baba. When we got Baba placed in that foster home, we noticed her belly was round and growing every day. She had 3 more precious babies she was carrying with her and gave birth to Baloo, Pip, and their sister Ivy (who is bonded to Baba - also available for adoption as a pair) in the warmth of a foster home on February 2, 2019.<br/><br/>Baloo, all black, was the first in the litter to be born and also the largest! She was kind of pair-shaped like Baloo from the Jungle Book and was, and still is, just like a hilarious and loveable bear, so the name fit perfectly!<br/><br/>Pip was the second born and quite the surprise because mom is solid black…and Pip was solid white! Since we have Baba’s first litter of kittens in our rescue, too (which includes a Siamese mix) we had a little intel on this white kitten. Siamese kittens are born solid white. An enzyme that produces fur color and is temperature sensitive starts to turn fur on cooler areas of the body (face, tail, ears, extremities) a darker color when they are born and out of the warm uterus of their mother, giving them the appearance we recognize as Siamese. Siamese cats’ coats continue to change colors until about the age of 2 years old. Pip also has the beautiful sky-blue eyes characteristic of the Siamese breed.<br/><br/>While sometimes people may know the mother of their cat(s), it’s rare to know who the father is…but our Director is fairly certain she knows who Baloo, Pip, and Ivy’s dad is. One evening that fall of 2018, she looked out the window to see Baba sitting on her patio…along with a big, mostly white cat with patches of brown tabby on his head and body. She had never seen him before, and never saw him again after that night, but is certain he is the girls’ dad. While Baloo is solid black like her mom, that’s where the similarities end. Baloo is twice the length of her little mom, and their face shapes are quite different. Baba is not Siamese, and neither is the girls’ suspected father (it's Baba who must carry a Siamese gene to have produced two Siamese kittens in two separate litters) but Pip’s face shape also resembles that of that mysterious male cat that was Baba’s companion that night. Their sister Ivy is mostly brown tabby and white. Aren’t cat genetics fun?<br/><br/>Besides physical characteristics, Baloo shares some personality traits with her presumed father. Our Director remembers he just sat on the edge of the patio, wide-eyed, with almost a cartoonish expression on his face. We have to laugh because Baloo makes the SAME quirky faces in response to any situation – just like her dad! Our Director didn’t hear that male cat make any vocalizations, but Baloo’s meow is like a little squawk that perfectly complements the comical facial expressions she makes. There’s no doubt in our minds that they are relatives!<br/><br/>The girls are now 1 ½ years old. They’re ALWAYS together and love each other so much. There was evidence of Pip and Baloo becoming best friends even when they were tiny babies (see adorable photo of them holding each other at just a few days old). Both girls are outgoing but Baloo is the bold leader of the pair. Wherever Baloo goes, Pip goes. Whatever Baloo does, Pip does – it’s pretty darn cute! Even though they are natural siblings, every cat is an individual and these little ladies have their own unique characteristics.<br/><br/>Baloo is the most outgoing of the family. She is curious about everything, and is the first to greet you when you arrive home and first to welcome any guests that come to visit. Overall, she’s the most laid-back, relaxed, and easy-going cat. So, not surprisingly, she loves her naps and can sleep anywhere in the funniest, and seemingly uncomfortable-looking positions.<br/><br/>In the rare moments Baloo isn’t attached to Pip’s side then Baloo is attached to her foster parents' sides. If they're cooking, Baloo is on the floor or kitchen counters supervising. If they're watching TV, Baloo is sitting next to them on the back of the couch (usually napping). She also sleeps at the foot of their bed in between their feet or under the covers curled up beside her humans. Baloo is the best cuddler.<br/><br/>Even though Baloo is a large-framed cat, she loves to play and is very active – whether in an impromptu game of chase through the home with her kitty family, or leaping in the air to capture her favorite wand toy, ‘Da Bird.<br/><br/>Pip is the family princess. There’s a delicacy and elegance about Pip while also being a little awkward. She loves attention and will flirt for it…but then once you give it to her, she will shy away. But Pip also has to be the center of attention. If Baloo is being pet, Pip will come running from another room and needs pets, too. Her personality is so very sweet, endearing, and always entertaining.<br/> <br/>Pip’s most vocal when she knows it’s almost mealtime. She’ll jump on the kitchen chairs near the fridge or pantry (the kitties in our rescue eat only species-appropriate wet and raw diets and our adopters must commit to continue feeding them the same) and makes the cutest, prettiest little meows letting you know it’s time to eat. She’ll rub against her humans' legs when they're preparing the food.<br/><br/>Pip also loves to play – crinkle balls being a favorite as well as competing to capture ‘Da Bird with her sister.<br/><br/>Pip was diagnosed with Juvenile Periodontitis – a condition where her body is attacking the plaque on her teeth – even with little to no plaque visible to the human eye, causing significant inflammation at the gum line resulting in loss of bone and periodontal attachment. Pip has seen our veterinary dental specialist and the best way to address the condition is to remove teeth that have been affected so Pip had partial mouth extractions of her molars and premolars (14 teeth). As cats do not chew their food (they have hinged jaws and gulp their food) they do just fine without teeth (we have several alumni who have needed most, and even all of their teeth removed) and their mouths subsequently feel so much better! The teeth extractions eliminated the significant inflammation around the teeth that were removed. If her remaining teeth show significant inflammation despite removing the others and at home dental care, Pip will need a future surgery to remove the rest of her teeth and needs an adoptive family committed to any future dental needs and care she may need as well as a commitment to always maintaining the low-stress and calm environment she needs for optimum health and wellbeing.<br/> <br/>As autoimmune conditions can be exacerbated by stress, Pip and Baloo need a low-stress, calm, and peaceful home environment with a person or couple who can be described as the same and who are established in their life and residence (as moving is one of the most stressful changes for cats). Pip’s minimal inflammation is currently isolated just to her gum line around her remaining teeth and minimizing her stress will increase the likelihood that her condition does not progress to more global mouth inflammation which is more serious. As such, Baloo and Pip would do best in an adult-only home (one where the adopter doesn’t want children or they are grown and out of the house). They could also do well in a home with a high school-aged child if they also have a mellow, laid-back personality and maintain that dynamic in the home.<br/><br/>We feel Baloo and Pip would be best as the only animals in the home (which will also minimize stress to Pip as stress increases with the number of animals in the home). As a bonded pair, they’re built-in best friends and have enough personality to fill the entire home! No dogs in the home.<br/><br/>Baloo and Pip are very special kitties – 2 in a million – with big personalities, sweet natures, and lots of quirks to keep you laughing and smiling, every day. They deserve parents who will appreciate how wonderful they are, and give them lots and lots of love and cuddles. Is it you?<br/><br/>Companion animals are family. They are not “less than”, “below”, “beneath,” or any different from human family members. They’re one and the same to us and we seek those adopters who share the same philosophy and feel the same way about these, the most amazing beings we are so privileged to share our lives with. If you live in the Milwaukee Metro Area, and if you have what Baloo and Pip are looking for in their forever home and will promise to love them always (and know you’re lucky to have the opportunity to do so), send us a message telling us about yourself and detailing what you can provide our family members, Baloo and Pip! (Inquiries that don't include this will not be considered). Baloo and Pip’s adoption fee is $120 and they are spayed, vaccinated, and microchipped.

*Please read entire bio to see if you are a match for what we and our family members are looking for before inquiring*

Sisters, sisters. Won’t you meet our bonded pair of sisters? Say “Hi” to Baloo and Pip! Before we tell you more about this dynamic duo, we want to tell you the story of how they arrived at Milwaukee Pets Alive.

In the fall of 2018, a little black cat wandered into our Director’s yard. She named her Baba, built her an insulated outdoor shelter, and worked every day to earn her trust in hopes of providing her a better life than the one lived outdoors. Baba did trust her – so much so that she brought her her 3, 8 week old kittens! All of them had colds and the frigid temps and snow weren’t helping. We were so lucky to have the perfect match in a foster home ready to take them in and get them healthy. As the kittens were older and had different socialization needs than their mom and also because we weren’t sure if Baba had any other kittens out there that hadn’t revealed themselves yet

*Please read entire bio to see if you are a match for what we and our family members are looking for before inquiring*

Sisters, sisters. Won’t you meet our bonded pair of sisters? Say “Hi” to Baloo and Pip! Before we tell you more about this dynamic duo, we want to tell you the story of how they arrived at Milwaukee Pets Alive.

In the fall of 2018, a little black cat wandered into our Director’s yard. She named her Baba, built her an insulated outdoor shelter, and worked every day to earn her trust in hopes of providing her a better life than the one lived outdoors. Baba did trust her – so much so that she brought her her 3, 8 week old kittens! All of them had colds and the frigid temps and snow weren’t helping. We were so lucky to have the perfect match in a foster home ready to take them in and get them healthy. As the kittens were older and had different socialization needs than their mom and also because we weren’t sure if Baba had any other kittens out there that hadn’t revealed themselves yet and needed her to survive in the cold, we decided to search for a separate foster home for Baba. When we got Baba placed in that foster home, we noticed her belly was round and growing every day. She had 3 more precious babies she was carrying with her and gave birth to Baloo, Pip, and their sister Ivy (who is bonded to Baba - also available for adoption as a pair) in the warmth of a foster home