Cheese and Goose, a 5 year-old bonded pair of brothers from different mothers, joined Tyler and Emily’s family during the pandemic. Having placed their names on every shelter’s adoption list, when South Shore’s SHAID called saying they had available kittens known as “the cat street boys”, they pounced on the opportunity. Thus Cheese, a gray tabby – formally known as Nick Carter – became a member of their family.
Only a few weeks later, the Hammonds Plains Vet called to say they had a kitten. Despite agreeing they didn’t need a second cat, Emily and Tyler decided to go anyway and later that evening their family of three became four as they brought home Goose, who has long grey and white fur.
After a brief period of consternation Goose’s affable ways won over Cheese, who despite being smaller and chunkier than his larger, leaner brother, remains the boss of the house.
Cheese was especially grateful for his brother’s easy going nature during his year-long health emergency at the age of two. In an exceedingly rare procedure, the South Shore Veterinary Hospital performed a double necropsy, removing the damaged head of both his femur bones.
Cheese’s case was even presented at a global veterinary conference. He recovered completely, with only slightly stumpy back legs as evidence. Emily can, upon request, produce the femur heads, preserved in a small jar of mescal.
Goose and Cheese now spend their days grooming each other, hiding in their tent, chatting late into the night, watching bird tv at the window and awaiting their nightly wet food (especially Cheese). They are opposed to the closing of doors within their household and Goose is the only hater of Emily and Tyler’s band Diggin’ up Grubs due to his strong dislike of stringed instruments. They forgive him this, as both cats know the sound of their car and wait by the door for their return.
Goose is otherwise known as Judith, Judy and Prudy Pants while Cheese will answer to Bobby, Chicken Wing or just Wing. They both work part-time as models and muses for Emily’s art.
