See The Shelter’s Wacky Plans To Get Them Adopted
Christina Williams – Imagine two fluffy friends, bonded for life, in need of a home together. So a shelter cooked up as many ideas as they could to find the pair a home together.
Marcell and Aspen’s story began at a New York animal shelter, where they were first adopted separately by a kind older man named Bruce who was grieving the loss of his dog. He walked into the shelter hoping to find a friend or two to keep him company. “He was lonely and depressed,” said Lynda Pruski, executive director of the shelter. Bruce left with both cats, and for four years, the trio shared a quiet, happy life.
Tragedy struck when Bruce fell ill. His final wish? That his beloved cats stay together. After his passing, the pair returned to the shelter — a place they’d called home years earlier. Staff quickly noticed their unshakable bond. “They were just always together, always touching,” Pruski said. “You’d always see them sleeping together.”
But finding a home for two cats wasn’t easy. Marcell’s size didn’t help — tipping the scales at nearly 26 pounds, he was a “very large, but very, very handsome” fellow with a bottomless appetite, Pruski said. The shelter even hosted a wedding for the duo to attract adopters. “We had a great time with it,” Pruski said. Still, no luck.
They were just always together, always touching,” Pruski said. “You’d always see them sleeping together.”
Months passed, and the shelter began to realize keeping the duo together might not be doable. So the shelter reluctantly advertised them separately, posting a cheeky Facebook plea: “I’m Marcell, and I’m ready to stride straight into your heart with 23 pounds of pure, unfiltered love,” the post read. Fans online swooned. “Look at this chonk!” one user gushed. Others begged, “You NEED to keep them together. NEED!”
Then, a miracle. Tricia Feuchter, who runs an assisted-living facility, had met the cats while dropping off donations. “They’re just so cute,” Feuchter said. She applied to adopt Marcell and Aspen, and integrate them into the facility for the residents alongside the two other pets that live there, Chowder and Ezzy. “Animal therapy is the best therapy,” Feuchter said.
Aspen with resident David Corrigan. Photo courtesy of Tricia Feuchter
The match was meant to be. “Everybody was really excited,” Pruski said. The cats moved in, charming residents instantly. Now, the duo naps on couches, steals snacks (carefully portioned, of course), and even have diet buddies — Chowder is trimming down alongside Marcell. “We try to get them together and moving,” Feuchter said.
For the seniors, the cats are family. “They sleep in residents’ beds, get snacks, and hang out,” Feuchter said. “The residents absolutely love it.” As for Marcell? He’s down to 21 pounds — proof that love, playtime, and fewer treats can work wonders.
SF Source The Daily Acorn May 2025