When Olivia Gilbride brought home a tiny foster kitten named Peanut, she promised herself it would be temporary. Her job was simple: help the kitten grow strong enough for adoption — and not get too attached.
Then Peanut met Cheddar, the family’s resident cat.
At first, their relationship was playful chaos. Cheddar loved to tease his new little sister, while Peanut was still learning how to navigate her big new world. But before long, their bond deepened. The two spent every day side by side — napping, playing, and quietly becoming inseparable.
When the time came for Peanut to return to the shelter for adoption, the family’s hearts broke — but fostering meant letting go, and they reminded themselves of that. They said their goodbyes and brought her back.
That night, Cheddar began searching the house for his sister.
“He’s just as heartbroken as us,” Gilbride wrote on TikTok.
He wandered from room to room, crying softly and looking for Peanut in all her favorite spots. Watching him grieve made it painfully clear — their goodbye couldn’t be permanent.
The next morning, Gilbride returned to the shelter — not as a foster mom, but as an adopter. Peanut was coming home for good.
“I can sleep peacefully tonight knowing my babies are back together,” she wrote.
When Cheddar saw Peanut’s carrier, his tail started to twitch with excitement. The moment she stepped out, he ran to her side, sniffing and nuzzling her like he couldn’t believe she was real.
What began as a simple foster turned into something so much more — a reunion of two cats who had already chosen each other as family.
Gilbride had meant to give a kitten a temporary home. Instead, she helped her cat find his forever soulmate.
