There's no telling what kind of friends your pets are going to make. While they ideally befriend you and each other, there's always a little bit of a curveball, like a dog who falls head-over-heels for an elderly neighbor or a cat who befriends a neighborhood raccoon.
Reptiles need friends, too, apparently, and one massive tortoise was not willing to wait anymore. When his parents brought home a new kitten, he wasted absolutely no time introducing himself, and his enthusiasm is seriously so cute:
Kendall Marshall was probably surprised to find this happening, since tortoises and other animals don't always go well together, but... he could not love this kitten more. He's so happy!
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The tortoise's name is Hortise, and his new Tuxedo-wearing brother's name is Copernicus. There are some other animals in the home too, including dogs and a snail named Carl, who was once caught hitching a ride on Hortise's shell. Because he's so big, Hortise lives outside and gets to visit his inside-dwelling siblings when they come out to potty.
When he came around for his daily visit once, though, there was someone new: Copernicus. He had just come home, and Hortise had never seen a cat before, so he lost it a little bit! You can see him basically run over to him (tortoises are surprisingly fast ), all while bobbing his head. Copernicus is a little more reserved - Hortise is huge and old, and Copernicus is just a little guy!
Can Tortoises Make Friends?
When we see tortoises in homes , they're often by themselves, but when we see them in zoos or at reptile parks, they're usually housed together. It sends some mixed signals, especially because tortoises look so friendly, it's hard to imagine them living alone for hundreds of years.
Tortoises, like most reptiles, are solitary. They may come together during mating season or in other circumstances where resources are scarce, but for the most part, they spend their lives alone. They can be kept together, but they won't interact much.
Instead, tortoises refer to get their enrichment in other ways, like foraging for food, going on long walks, and engaging with their human caretakers. Tortoises who are raised in homes with other animals will interact with those animals, too, and can be found chasing them around the yard or just watching them move!
In this case, it seems like Hortise is obsessed with his new bestie because of his tail, which is long and fuzzy and easily mistaken for some sort of fruit. Hopefully his parents are watching him closely, though, to make sure he never takes a bite!
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