Two foster kittens named Roni and Cheese forever changed the lives of Chicago couple Christine and Chris Nendrick.
Christine Nendick, Adoptions Coordinator with the Catcade, a Chicago-based nonprofit rescue, celebrates five years of fostering kittens. It all started when Christine and her husband and “pawtner in crime” Chris took in a couple of life-changing “foster fails.”
Images via Instagram/Rescue in Style
When they started fostering kittens on February 15, 2017, Christine was more of a dog person. So, she didn’t think she or Chris would ever adopt cats. But as we all know, cats always work their way into your heart given any opening. Now they “Rescue in Style” and enjoy caring for cats and dogs.
Roni and Cheese
Initially, the couple took in foster kittens Mac, Roni, and Cheese. Fluffy Roni was sweet, while Cheese was “wild and rambunctious” from the start.
Then, they endured heartbreak as sister Mac passed away. Thereafter, sisters, Roni and Cheese were always together, “looking out for each other,” and getting into mischief.
“Sadly, little Mac didn’t make it and I was left shattered and immediately forged a deep bond with the remaining two,” Christine wrote.
In no time, the bonded kittens “snuggled their way” into the couple’s hearts while providing plenty of comic relief. Eventually, it was time to let the kittens find new homes, but that never happened. Now, they are the couple’s forever cats.
“When it came time to drop them off at The Anti-Cruelty Society I just couldn’t do it,” Christine wrote. “We signed on the bottom line and made them ours forever instead. These two make me laugh and cry and pull [out] my hair in frustration daily, but if it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t know how fun it is to be a crazy cat lady.”
Fostering Roni and Cheese Leads to Helping 100 Cats
Ever since then, the two cats have changed the family’s lives. Christine and Chris continued to foster, helping 100 cats in five years.
“Five years ago, we decided to foster kittens because we didn’t think we’d ever foster fail. We weren’t cat people and we didn’t want cats. LOL. Here we are five years and 100 cat fosters later. Thankfully, no more fails since,” she wrote on Instagram.
Roni and Cheese – Gateway to Cat Lady Status
In another post, Christine says that taking in Roni and Cheese was the gateway to becoming a “bonafide cat lady.”
“To be honest, I never thought I’d have cats, I was always a dog person. But, then I fostered these two, and they were my gateway to becoming the bonafide cat lady I am today!” Christine wrote on Instagram.
And like many cat dads, Chris sometimes resisted at first. However, the kitten worked their magic, and as we know, resistance is futile.
Frequently, Christine praises how supportive and loving Chris is with all the fosters.
Rawlings the Greyhound Comes Home
Finally, Christine’s dream to adopt a dog came true when Rawlings, the retired racing greyhound, joined the family in 2018. Sometimes, Rawlings, who Christine describes as 78% alien, 20% cat, and 2% deer, is seen with Roni and Cheese. While greyhounds can race like the wind, they are cuddly couch potatoes at home.
“You’ve taught us so much, but mostly how to perfect the art of couch potato 🥔”
Of course, introducing greyhounds with cats must be done with great care, but as you can see, it works great in this family.
“For the most part, [Rawlings] ignores Roni and Cheese (much to their delight), and she’s great with everyone she’s met,” Christine wrote.
Rescuing greyhounds called Galgos, or Spanish Greyhounds, is a passion for Christine. Each year, thousands of Galgos require rescue, “one of the most persecuted breeds of dogs,” she says.
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