Janine And Sundance: Huntington Adoptable Pets Of The Week

HUNTINGTON, NY — Janine and Sundance, two "inseparable" cats, are the Grateful Paw Cat Shelter's Huntington Pets of the Week.

They are not from the same litter, although they have similar colorings, but they have really bonded with one another the past seven years, said Debbi Larkin, president of the shelter. The shelter is trying to help the two find their forever home together.

Janine is a very gentle tiger/tabby with orange markings, Larkin said. She was born in July 2010. One year later, she was dumped outside the old Grateful Paw Shelter with her four kittens, according to Larkin. She was immediately placed in foster care with her babies until she could be checked by the shelter's veterinarian and was given the OK to continue to nurse her babies and eventually wean them from her.

"She was a terrific mom, always doting on her babies and taking care of them 24/7," Larkin said. "When her babies were old enough they came into the shelter and were placed in the kitten room and within two weeks, all four kittens were adopted into loving homes. Janine was always shy and timid around humans so she never had the opportunity to go home with a family."

Janine remained at the old shelter facility until she went into a foster home with two other cats in 2017. One of those cats is Sundance.

Sundance is a "very handsome" ginger boy who was born in March 2016, Larkin said. He and his brother, Butch, who looked exactly like him, were dumped outside the old Grateful Paw Shelter in a box with no note or explanation when they were approximately 6 months old, she said.

Both boys were checked by the veterinarian and placed in one of the free roaming rooms and made available for adoption.

"Unfortunately, neither brother was adopted before they went into a foster home, the same one that Janine was placed in," Larkin said. "And to make matters worse, Butch passed away
unexpectedly from liver and kidney problems a year later. That left Sundance to find a new
companion and that turned out to be Janine. Sundance is also very shy and quiet and timid around humans."

After five long years in a foster home, both Janine and Sundance came back to the new Grateful
Paw Shelter in December 2022 and were placed in one of the rooms together since they already
knew one another, Larkin said.

"They were very laid back and reserved but always hung out in the same beds or condos. Now, they are inseparable and we would like to keep it that way. They have really started to blossom in the room, even walking over to visitors and rubbing against their legs to get some attention. And Janine, who was always hand shy, allows petting! You can always find them cuddling together in any of the sleeping surfaces in the room and they are always side by side at the food plate."

Both Janine and Sundance are fully vetted, tested negative for FELV and FIV, checked for
parasites, litter box trained and spayed or neutered.

"They would do well in a quiet home," Larkin said. "They do like other cats, but they MUST be adopted together. They have been through so much and we do not want to cause them any more heartache."

If you are interested in meeting Janine and Sundance, you may call the shelter at 631-757-4517, email cats@laphuntington.org, visit the Facebook page or visit at the Grateful Paw Cat Shelter.

The rescue is at 3 Verleye Ave., East Northport, and visiting hours are Tuesday through Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.

The shelter is also open from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday nights only for those who cannot make it during the daytime hours.

"These two sweethearts belong together in a home where they can be loved and taken care of
for the rest of their lives," Larkin said. "They have been in a room with other cats from other sad situations but they always stick side by side. Maybe the 'Luck of the Irish' will be with them and someone will come in to give them their 'Pot of Gold' at the end of the rainbow and in their case, that would be a loving home."