Winston and Joey – Floppycats of the Week
Winston and Joey: From Stray Cats to Stars of the House
Winston found us first. He was a stray that wandered into my workplace one day, looking like he already knew where he wanted to go. We later found out he had been living near the train tracks behind the yard, part of a small group of stray cats in the area. But Winston made clear that he wasn’t just any stray. He picked me.
After getting the okay from Mom, I brought him home. He settled in almost immediately, like he had always belonged there. Within days, it was obvious Winston wasn’t just comfortable. He had taken over. He knew which windows had the best sun, which shelves were worth climbing, and how to claim every soft surface in the house. He wasn’t just a cat; he was family.
It didn’t take long before we started thinking about getting a second cat. Winston needed a friend, someone to play with and keep him company when we weren’t around. That’s when we found Joey.
A post had gone up on our community Facebook page about a kitten someone had found. The family couldn’t keep him as they already had too many pets, but he was sweet, friendly, and needed a home. We reached out, met him, and brought him home soon after. At the time, they were calling him Zoey because they thought he was a girl. We didn’t notice either, to be honest, until we took him in to get fixed and found out he was actually a boy. That’s when Zoey officially became Joey.
We also learned a bit more about his story. He had originally been adopted from a shelter, but his new owner lost him just two days later. He spent the next two months out on the street before being taken in by the daughter of the family who posted him. It’s a miracle he was found, and we’re so grateful he was.
When we introduced Winston and Joey, it was almost instant. They took to each other right away – playing, grooming, and curling up together like they’d always been a pair. Even though they’re not biological brothers, they look like they could be, and they definitely act like it. They’re as close as any siblings we’ve ever seen.
We think they were each about six months old when we got them, so they’ve grown up together ever since. That’s been about 2-1/2 years now.
They completely changed our lives. The biggest surprise has been how much Dad has embraced being a full-blown catdad, something Mom didn’t expect at all, but now wouldn’t trade for anything. And as you can imagine, we ended up with a lot of pictures. That’s when we decided to start sharing them with others.
We created WinstonAndJoey.com as a way to document their stories and personalities. That turned into a book, How to Train Your Humans, which is available on Amazon. Then came our Facebook page and Pinterest account, and now we’re working on building out our YouTube channel: youtube.com/@WinstonAndJoey.
Winston and Joey aren’t just cats. They’re a big part of our lives, and we can’t imagine our home without them. They’re sweet, silly, and completely devoted to each other. And of course, they have us wrapped around their little paws.
Submitting them as a pair only feels right, because that’s exactly what they are, always together, always a team.
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Thank you for reading! Submissions like these – the “Cat of the Week” and “Kitten of the Month”- are provided by their owners and reflect their individual experiences and practices. The information these submissions share does not necessarily reflect Floppycats’ recommendation or endorsement regarding cat nutrition or care. Always consult a qualified feline nutritionist or veterinarian for personalized advice on your cat’s dietary and health needs. If you want to learn more about species-appropriate nutrition, please visit our cat food page.
Hi, I’m Jenny Dean, creator of Floppycats! Ever since my Aunt got the first Ragdoll cat in our family, I have loved the breed. Inspired by my childhood Ragdoll cat, Rags, I created Floppycats to connect, share and inspire other Ragdoll cat lovers around the world,
A beautifully-written love story! They are too cute! Glad you all found each other.