r/Bondedpairs • u/Slothopus99 • 1d ago
My Blind Babies
Stevie (cream, girl) and Ray (grey, boy). The sweetest babies ever. Always together 💞
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u/what-the-what24 1d ago
Love the photo of them by the window!!
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u/cnthelogos 1d ago
I want to know what they think they're looking at.
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u/Slothopus99 1d ago
They’re so nosy! (Just like me) We’re all at the window together most of the time
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u/Tundraspin 1d ago
I must feel the vibrations of the Gartner snake in the backyard.
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u/Slothopus99 1d ago
I’ve caught them playing around with something one time and in an effort to see what it was/confiscate it, it turned out to be a gnat. They’re surprisingly good hunters
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u/eucldian 1d ago
Well, I mean nothing if we are being literal. Lol
I am sure it is still stimulating from a smell and sound purrspective.
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u/cnthelogos 1d ago
I know that's probably what's going on, I'm just picturing them staring into the void and gaining eldritch insight we mere mortals can't comprehend. Like a much cuter version of the "where we're going we don't need eyes to see" scene from Event Horizon.
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u/Slothopus99 1d ago
Honestly the second pic reminds me of that. Like they are wise beyond their cat years and know things that our human eyes and minds cannot yet comprehend
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u/eucldian 1d ago
Lol, never thought we would get to an Event Horizon reference on a cat sub.
😆
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u/PookieCat415 18h ago
Cats also can feel vibration as it’s an adaptation they have for hunting. The whiskers even have receptors on them. Cats have many more senses than humans haven’t even figured out yet.
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u/fishymiss 1d ago
cat centipede on pic 3
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u/Slothopus99 1d ago
Yeah they sleep in the wildest positions haha. Very funny to walk in on
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u/The-Odd-Fox 1d ago
I was laughing at that picture cuz Stevie is straight up huffin’ Ray’s ass while they sleep lmao. Cats are so funny without even trying sometimes
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u/halfchewedcaramel 1d ago
my heart just E X P L O D E D
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u/coffeenb1 17h ago
I was about to comment this exact same thing 😭😭😭😭 omgggg they’re too adorable!!!
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u/purplefuzz22 1d ago
Oh my goodness! I just love them 💙💙💙.
Thanks for taking care of these two little fluffs 💙.
Are they adopted/rescues?? It takes a special person with a huge heart to take on special needs animals .
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u/Slothopus99 1d ago
Yeah they’re rescues! They were a free bonded pair from the shelter. I’ve never had kittens before and I was pretty apprehensive. I met them one day and I told myself that if they were still at the shelter the next day, I would take them home. I was there the next day before they opened, waiting to sign the paperwork in hopes they would be there and they were! There was definitely an adjustment period and at a time I thought I wasn’t cut out to care for them but we got through it!! I wouldn’t trade them for the world. They are such a light in my life and I encourage people to consider adopting a disabled pet if you’re willing and able to. They deserve just as much love
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u/Landon_Mills 1d ago
lol pic 3 - I guess you can sleep with your face in someone’s ass when you’re impervious to pink eye!
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u/tridon74 1d ago
Can you touch/pet them where their eyes would be? Or does it hurt? Weird question ik but I’m curious lol
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u/Slothopus99 1d ago
Not weird at all! You can touch it but they don’t really like it that much. Believe it or not, they still get the occasional eye boogie so I’ll wipe that out
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u/tridon74 23h ago
Interesting they still get eye boogers! Does that mean they still have a tear duct?
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u/Slothopus99 23h ago
I believe so. When I first saw them in the shelter, Ray had recently gotten a second surgery because the Dr who originally did their eye removal at another shelter left tissue that had to be taken out. Stevie is the main one that gets boogies and it’s only out of her right eye hole
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u/tridon74 23h ago
That’s so interesting. Thanks for answering my questions, Stevie and Ray are adorable!!
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u/itslonelyinhere 23h ago
I don't want to be a downer, and I also feel compelled to comment. First off, I love them. It's amazing that we can love animals immediately, isn't it? Thank you so much for posting. I absolutely giggled at them 'looking' out the window together. Second, I'm just now starting to look at pictures of cats as I lost my bonded pair within five days of one another last December. While they weren't siblings, the younger one (who was 11), was born around the older one (who was 16) and she clung to him as if he were her brother. He took her in as such. I got to spend their entire lives with them, and it's almost like the old married couple who can't live without the other once they pass. My old guy passed and five days later, she went, too. I'll never know why, but man, it's one of the hardest things I've ever had to go through (and still am).
I hope you have many, MANY more years with yours because bonded kitties are just... well, they're something special, aren't they?
Much love to them (and you, too).
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u/Slothopus99 20h ago
Oh my goodness! Thank you so much for sharing and I wish you healing in your time of grief ❤️🩹 In life they had each other and they have each other on the other side too. They have a 9 month old little brother too (with eyes) but these two are something special together for sure.
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u/LiliAtReddit 16h ago
I adopted an older, special needs cat during Covid, Joey. I’m told he was always blind in left eye, but he’s now lost his sight totally. He walks around slowly (always been slow) wanders a lot, and seems sometimes content, sometimes lost. He purrs a lot. My 4 other cats are great with him, the youngest seems to check on him frequently, like serves as a grounding presence. I’ve lowered my bed for easy access, and keep everything the same in the house so he doesn’t run into stuff, and make sure to separate him when feeding to confirm he’s getting good nutrition. He yowls at night sometimes, and I getup and re-orient/reassure him. Is there anything else I can do? Do you think he has good quality of life still? He’s ridiculous, I love him.
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u/Slothopus99 15h ago
I think you’re doing an amazing job! I can imagine it’s probably hard to slowly lose your eyesight. My little guy also talks a lot. I try to talk back to him to let him know that I’m here with him/ where I am. I’m sure he can smell me but I like to think it gives him a little comfort. I think as long as your cat isn’t in any pain and is still exhibiting normal (for him) behavior then he probably has a good quality of life. Of course you should consult with a vet if you have serious concerns!
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u/LiliAtReddit 14h ago
Aw, thanks. I’ve had him to the vet and they surmise he had a tough first 10 years, and now he’s just in his slow and safe retirement years with me. Told me to keep an eye on him for signs of decline, but otherwise, carry on. Thanks for your reply, it’s helpful to hear from another parent of a blind pet!
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u/OtherThumbs 4h ago
I've had plenty of blind and low vision cats. They like to talk at night. They just like to know they're not alone in the world. I call to them to get them to come join me for snuggles and sleep. I'd think it was annoying if it weren't so endearing.
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u/Slothopus99 4h ago
Yeah they’re pretty much on my sleep schedule now which is nice! And we all sleep in a big cuddle puddle of love
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u/the_p0ssum 1d ago
So, both siblings were born blind? I don't think I've ever heard of that, but obviously, they don't know any better. What a sweet pair. ❤️
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u/Slothopus99 1d ago
They weren’t born blind. I’m not sure why they had them surgically removed but it was probably due to infection. I believe they’ve had them out since they were around 2 months old. I got them when they were 4 months old and they’re turning 2 in July! It’s really all they know!
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u/the_p0ssum 1d ago
That's awesome. Disabled pets can be more work, and two of them was probably a bit much at times. But they look like a lot of fun!
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u/Slothopus99 1d ago edited 1d ago
Oh they were a LOT to handle when I first got them! Less about them being blind and more so them being kittens and doing things that kittens do (being up all night, eating my plants, potty issues). But I would do it all over again for them! They’ve calmed down a lot since growing up a bit
Edit: spelling
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u/rajinis_bodyguard 19h ago
OP I am so happy you're taking care of them ❤️ wishing Stevie and Ray good health and happiness😊
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u/Br0boc0p 16h ago
That tracks. I help do TNR and I swear like 30% of the kittens I've seen have at least 1 eye infected. I'm glad you all have each other. 🥺😍
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u/agiantanteater 1d ago
They are perfect! Are they named after Stevie Ray Vaughan?
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u/Slothopus99 1d ago
Thank you so much! But no. My mom made a funny but sick joke that they should be named after Stevie wonder and Ray Charles 💀 and the names just kinda stuck after that lol
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u/Acceptable-Board8327 22h ago
What a great pair! 🥹 They seem inseparable.
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u/Slothopus99 21h ago
They really are! I’m glad they have each other and I’m glad I have them
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u/Acceptable-Board8327 3h ago
I can imagine them yap at each other to find each other if/when separated. 🥹🥹🥹
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u/NetIllustrious 19h ago
They are absolutely precious!!! The grooming each other picture is so cute. Can I ask why/how they became blind? Or will the answer make me lose my faith in humanity?
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u/Slothopus99 18h ago
Yeah ask any questions you’d like! Nothing nefarious as far as I know. It was probably due to an infection when they were babies. I think eye infections in kittens is pretty common
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u/Blueberry-Common 14h ago
Not them “looking” out the window! What a gorgeous pair. If a blind kitty ever comes up for adoption I think they will be mine ♥️
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u/GR7ME 22h ago
I’ve never seen someone’s blind kitties in as many ‘normal’ spots as the ones yours are in, how do they know they’re on a small space like the back of a couch or ledge or whatever they’re on, inside a box, or on top of that plastic basket? Are you putting them there and they somehow feel comfortable enough to stay? Super intriguing to me haha, they’re adorable!
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u/Slothopus99 21h ago
No they get wherever they are completely on their own! You’d be surprised how much trouble blind cats can get into. Ray is super super adventurous and curious so he ends up in some interesting places and situations. When I first got them it took them around 2-3 hours to figure out my apartment. But yeah if something new is in the apartment they don’t hesitate to climb on or in it. Try not to move things around too often but they adapt to a change in surroundings very quickly
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u/petusbella 19h ago
Legitimate doubt, that's how they were born? I had a French Poodle dog who gradually lost his sight, he was a sweetheart, my baby who was in our family for 8 years lived completely blind for 6 years.
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u/Slothopus99 19h ago
No they have them surgically removed when they were around 2 months! I’m not exactly sure why, probably due to infection though
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u/RevolutionaryCut1298 7h ago
I just think they are doing this the whole time 😌 and I can't unsee it.
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u/spaghettirhymes 7h ago
Is there anything you have to do differently for them? If you’ve never had other cats, maybe you don’t notice a difference. But I’m curious. Being cats, I’d imagine they do quite a good job at navigating spaces with just their nose and whiskers.
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u/Slothopus99 5h ago
I grew up with a pair of twin cats but honestly, I don’t do much different! They’re just like regular cats, sans eyes! They don’t have any medical issues that require medication or anything. They’re very independent. The only thing I help Stevie with is when she wants to get on my bed, I put her up there but Ray can jump on the bed by himself!
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u/NeedleworkerTrick126 1d ago
Cat 1: DO YOU SEE THAT?!
Cat 2: See what?
Cat 1: I don't know!