Molly hated them! Since they were so small, I had to keep them in a pen with a heating lamp to keep them warm. Whenever I brought them out, Molly would hiss and run away if they got too close.

Because they stayed in my office, I kept the door closed when I wasn’t around—I wasn’t sure if Molly would try to attack them. Meanwhile, these tiny 12-ounce (340 g) kittens learned to eat solids and make their way to the litter box.

Unfortunately, two weeks later, Atlas passed away from sudden kitten death syndrome at 4 a.m. It was truly unexpected, but I could tell both felines felt the loss. Apollo cried for days, so I made sure to keep him close.

After losing Atlas, Apollo made an even greater effort to be around Molly, though she still growled at him. He would chase her, and she would leap onto higher surfaces to escape.

Before long, he wasn’t just eating his food—he was eating hers too. He followed her everywhere, and I could tell Molly was slowly getting used to his presence. Then one day, I came home to find them napping together!

I was over the moon. From that moment on, they became inseparable—meowing for each other and never staying apart for long. I knew then that they were a bonded pair, and I was determined to ensure they were adopted together.

At each adoption showing, Molly was the friendliest cat—eagerly accepting pets and absolutely loving treats. Apollo, on the other hand, was shy and would observe Molly’s interactions before deciding what to do.

One person asked if she could take Apollo for a trial week to see if she felt comfortable fostering in a studio, and I agreed. Luckily, she brought him back, and we both agreed—they missed each other too much!

I fostered Molly for eight months and Apollo for six before they finally found their forever home. I stay in touch with their adopter and love watching them thrive. And yes—Apollo is still chewing on everything!