Published Jun 4, 2026
Mandolin and Viola’s parents weren’t sure about adopting cats at first, especially their dad. They decided to start with fostering to see whether they enjoyed the experience and could truly make a lifelong commitment.
Little did they know, that commitment would come sooner than they thought, as they both fell in love with their very first foster placements.
Testing the Waters
“Cat dad was not all the way on board with adopting,” says the cats’ mom. He’d grown up with cats, but hadn’t lived with them in a long time and associated them with having a messy home.
They decided to use fostering as a trial run, working with Flatbush Cats in Brooklyn to foster a mama cat and her three ten-day-old kittens.
Mama was trapped first, intended for the rescue’s TNR (trap, neuter, return) program. When they noticed she was lactating, they hurried back to find her babies, and soon all four were in their new foster home.
Image Credit: The Cat Chronicles
They describe the foster care experience as chaotic and fun, with lots of vet appointments since the kittens were so young. Two of the kittens found their way under their mom’s skin, making it more difficult for her to let go.
Mandolin grew into an adventurous boy, who scares his mom by balancing on top of doors and perching in other high places. He’s also incredibly vocal and clingy.
Meanwhile, Viola loves draping herself across her mom’s shoulders and is a much more serious cat, only wanting attention when she allows it. She shows off her wild side when she gets the zoomies, racing all over the house.
Too soon, it was time to make a decision. The kittens were ready to be spayed and neutered, and adopted into their forever homes.
Hesitating to Adopt
While their dad still wasn’t all the way on board with adoption, Viola and Mandolin’s mom had fallen in love and couldn’t dream of giving them up. They ultimately decided to keep the two kittens, while allowing their sibling and mama to find awesome new homes.
Image Credit: The Cat Chronicles
Now, their mom says about her husband, “The moment he walks into the house, he runs to them, not me.”
He enjoys cuddling the cats and always wants them in his lap. “They wiggled their way into his heart.”
Each cat has chosen their own favorite person, with Mandolin being a mama’s boy and Viola being obsessed with her dad! Even when she’s minding her own business, their mom says, Dad will go disturb her for cuddles. The cats are part of the family now, and he can’t get enough of them.
There’s no doubt that Mandolin and Viola have changed their humans’ lives for the better, giving them something to look forward to coming home to every day. Now that they’re living the spoiled indoor life, their mom can’t imagine her sweet, well-behaved cats having to grow up on the street. Both of their parents are so glad they decided to foster!
Image Credit: The Cat Chronicles
You can see more of Mandolin and Viola on Instagram, where they’re known as the String Siblings.
Want to Foster a Cat?
If you’re inspired by Mandolin and Viola’s story, consider fostering some cats of your own! It’s not just kittens who are in need, but also healthy adult cats and seniors, many of whom only require basic cat care.
The best way to get started is to contact a local animal shelter or cat rescue. Most of them are in desperate need of foster homes, and will be very happy to work with you.
For more information, check out our complete guide to fostering cats.
