You never know where you might meet your new best friend.
It could be at school, at an event, or at the gym. Or seeing their photo on Facebook.
For Miranda, it happened twice.
The first time was Pigeon, now known as Willow. “I had recently lost my two senior cats—both within seven weeks of each other. At 19 years old, their passing wasn’t unexpected, but it happened so quickly that I didn’t have time to adopt again before they were both gone. For the first time in my life, I was living in a home without cats. It felt empty and strange. I missed them terribly, but I wasn’t seeking to adopt a kitten. I was searching specifically for senior cats—those older, often-overlooked pets. I have a soft spot for the unwanted ones, and since my cats have all typically lived into their late teens, I’m well-versed in the care of senior pets,” said Miranda.
So, when Willow appeared on her Facebook feed on a random day in October 2023, she instantly knew she had to meet her. The next day, she was adopting the eight-year-old kitty from the Kings SPCA Shelter.
Miranda remembered the first moment she brought Willow home with so much affection. “I had everything ready for her, but it was the first time I’d brought a cat into a home that didn’t already have other cats waiting. Instead, she was greeted by our two dogs – Finn, our friendly Australian Shepherd who adored everyone he met, and Sunny, who was a bit more reserved. Both were good with cats, so I wasn’t worried.
Willow took it all in stride. She explored the house confidently, as though she already knew it was hers. She settled in quickly, acting from day one like the new queen of the castle.”
In the meantime, Willow got a partner in crime, Winston, and the home was a multi-cat household again. But Miranda wasn’t done. From a young age, she had a soft spot for black cats, and she was waiting for that fur baby she didn’t know yet, but somehow, she missed.
Then came the second time Miranda scrolled through the social platform, and Toothless, now Bastian, made an appearance. Miranda was immediately drawn in by the 14-year-old black cat. He was missing some teeth, and his bio mentioned spondylosis, but nothing ever stays in the way of a true bond.
“He was a beautiful senior boy who needed a home, and the next morning, my husband and I made another trip to King’s SPCA to bring him home. 
He was in the social room, just like Willow had been. As soon as we walked in, he rubbed against my leg. I picked him up and asked him if he’d like to come home with me, he purred so we took that as a yes,” Miranda reminisced.
And thus, in May 2024, Bastian went home. He and Willow got along from the start, and as Miranda put it, “It was like two old friends reuniting after years apart. Almost like they knew they were both Kings SPCA alumni, as if that shared experience created an instant bond.”
Now, a year or so later, Willow and Bastian continue to show off their true personality. Miranda spoke so fondly about them, it wasn’t hard to know and feel how loved they are. “Willow is incredibly sweet and happily lays around looking cute, but when she gets wound up, she zooms around the house like a little lunatic. She’s also super chatty, especially when she’s playing. I call her nutty as a fruitcake – and we wouldn’t have her any other way.
Bastian is all mischief – but the quiet, sneaky kind. He’s incredibly silent most of the time; you rarely hear a peep from him. But he’s got his own way of communicating, especially when it comes to mealtimes. And I’m convinced he can read clocks.”
They love to keep their fur parents entertained and on their toes. Be it with their favourite games – sneak attacks, chasing after treats up and down the stairs to burn off some energy before going to sleep, letting their parents know they’re one second late with the food – or letting them wonder with which sibling they will get along, Willow and Bastian hve their days filled with important tasks.
Along with their feline sibling, Winston, they love a catio. And in true cat attitude is always their parents’ fault when they can’t use it. Miranda said, “It’s not open much during the winter, but when it is, they line up like little furry commuters – waiting patiently (mostly) for the one in front to go out first. Sometimes, we end up with a stalemate at the swinging cat door: one cat trying to come in while another wants to go out, neither willing to budge. It’s like a feline stand-off.
It’s especially funny when they ask to go out and we warn them, ‘You’re not going to like it—it’s raining,’ or ‘It’s cold out there.’ But they insist, so we open the door, and they stick their heads out, realize we were right, and then come back in looking offended—like the weather was our fault.”
Their canine siblings aren’t ignored, either. Between the two of them, it was obvious Bastian lived with dogs before. Finn was the one who he bonded with immediately.
“When we adopted Bastian, Finn finally got his cat. Bastian absolutely adored him – rubbing up against him constantly, curling up with him on his bed. It was the most beautiful thing to witness. It made me so happy to see that Bastian had clearly had dog friends in the past, and now he had found another in Finn. 
I only wish we’d been able to adopt Bastian sooner. We lost Finn unexpectedly this past December, and it was a huge blow for all of us. All the pets were affected, but especially Bastian. He still sleeps in Finn’s bed every night.
We’re so grateful that our sweet dog got his cat in the end, even if it was only for a short while. We just wish they’d had more time together,” Miranda described their relationship.
There are a lot more things to be shared about Willow and Bastian and the loving family they’re a part of. More anecdotes about their nicknames, their rituals and favourite things to do.
It’s so easy to talk about your best friend. And we can all probably tell stories all day long. Because it’s not about how you met. It’s about the memories you make along the way that turn ordinary days into unforgettable ones.
And if you are thinking about adopting a new family member and creating those new extraordinary memories, Miranda wanted to leave you with this advice. “Don’t overlook the older cats. They have so much to offer. Cats have a remarkable way of living in the present – they don’t dwell on the past. When you bring an older cat into your home, they often settle in like they’ve always belonged there. Some may take a little more time to adjust than others, but that’s true of cats at any age. Seniors just bring something special. They know who they are, and as they get to know you and their new home, you’ll quickly forget there was ever a time they weren’t part of your life.
When you adopt a pet, what you’re really bringing home is love, companionship, joy, and laughter—and there’s nothing more precious, priceless, or more ageless than that.”
Visit our adoption website or drop by one of our shelters across the province to meet the pets who are looking for homes right now.