After a heavy downpour, Ginger Biscuit was discovered drenched and in need of assistance in a storm drain. His savior transported him to Greenside Animal Hospital, where he was placed in the isolation ward, where he could mend and recuperate in quiet, because they didn’t know anything about his condition.
When Ginger initially arrived at the hospital, he was naturally anxious. He was just 8 to 10 weeks old and quite bewildered, so everyone passing by and caring for him made him scared.
“[Ginger] is quiet but very affectionate and enjoys attention once he has overcome his initial fear of touch with our staff who cares for him,” Greenside Animal Hospital founders Dr. Joubert Viljoen and Dr. Suzette Greube told The Dodo. “When visitors enter the isolation ward, he is a little suspicious of them until he sees us carrying food, then he is pleased to come out of his shell and connect.”
Fortunately for Ginger, he had the isolation ward to himself – with the exception of Anne.
Anne was also brought to the hospital as a stray after she was found hiding in a bush at a nearby sports club. She was covered with fleas and ticks and was very weak. One of the trainers at the club brought her to the hospital, and everyone could immediately see that she was quite sick. They sprang into action trying to heal her and got her all settled into the isolation ward.
Cats and dogs are usually housed in separate quarters at Greenside Animal Hospital, but the isolation ward is an exception. Anne and Ginger’s boxes were on opposite sides of the room. The personnel believed there was no way they could have any interaction. Ginger, on the other hand, has different ideas.
One day, employees entered the isolation unit and came to a complete halt. Ginger was not to be found in his box. Instead, he was snuggled up in Anne’s box with her.
“We underestimated the kitten’s ability to wriggle itself through the door of the cage he was placed in,” Viljoen and Greube said. “With the little dog being so weak, we never considered her to be a risk to the kitten, but when we saw them together the first time around, there definitely was a moment of panic, seeing as some dogs don’t react well to cats and vice versa.”
When they witnessed how gentle Anne was with Ginger and how much they seemed to love one other, everyone’s doubts were soon dispelled. The two seemed to calm down each other, and despite the staff’s best efforts, they were unable to separate them again. Anne and Ginger had made up their minds that they belonged together, and that was the end of it.
“After initially discovering them together, we moved the kitten back into his cage, as his litter box, food and water was in there, but he immediately made his way out of the cage and back to his friend,” Viljoen and Greube said.
Now, Anne and Ginger are sharing a crate full time, and they couldn’t be happier about it. Anne was so weak when she first arrived at the hospital, but having Ginger by her side seems to be helping her recovery and giving her strength. He gives her something to focus on and care for, and she gives him a sense of calm and safety that he had been missing before.
“With these two, it’s absolutely a matter of ‘yours, mine, and ours,’” Viljoen and Greube remarked. “They like cuddling and even sharing meals!” They have toys, but chasing Anne’s tail is the kitten’s favorite activity!”
The pair may be very different, but it doesn’t matter. Their friendship is strong, and everyone agrees that it’s the sweetest thing ever.