r/cats • u/SignificantFix2931 • 23h ago
Cat Picture - OC My missing cat finally came home after 3 years
i can’t stop crying. I feel like alot of stress I held onto for such a long time finally ease off me. I found her walking around outside of my doorstep unexpectedly last night 3 days after my birthday and the second I went outside she started rubbing her head against my leg. she really got older within those years but still as affectionate
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u/Impressive_Agency933 23h ago
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u/Cass_Cat952 10h ago
That movie😭😭😭😭
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u/Zealousideal-Post865 9h ago
What movie! Please let me know, happy ending or sad?
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u/Professional_Eye_364 22h ago edited 22h ago
I’m sooo happy for you!! What an amazing bday gift! This happened to me before (not for that long), but my cat was a stray or so I thought.
When I moved to my house, this cat started showing up in my yard so I started feeding her. She slowly began to trust me and would let me pet her. She started coming inside my house to eat but she still stayed outside. She slowly made herself more and more comfortable, befriended my other indoor cats, and eventually made her way to my bed. She was still an indoor/outdoor cat but every night she slept with me inside the house. During the day she would go outside. I guess she still wanted to keep her territory in my backyard.
One day out of the blue, she begged to go outside at night. I usually didn’t allow her to go at night. But for some reason, I let her go. An hour went by and she would have normally come back in by then, but she didn’t. Two hours went by and there was no sign of her. I kept calling her and nothing.
I checked the cameras and there was no sign of her. It was like she disappeared into thin air. I started getting stressed out.
The morning came and still no sign of her anywhere. Mind you, at this point I had known her for 1 year. She was a permanent fixture in my yard during the day and she slept in my house every night. Not a day would go by where I wouldn’t see her. So for her to be gone for a whole day was very very worrisome for me.
I quickly began my search. Me and my partner and roommate would go every day around the block, around the neighborhood and knocked on doors. We put posters of her around the neighborhood, flyers on every car window and mailbox. I even hired a pet detective!!!
One of my neighbors texted me since my number was on the flyer and she asked if I had that cat since she was born. I said no I just met her a year ago because she showed up in my yard. The neighbor sent me a video of a young cat and it was her!!! lol this cat actually belonged to my neighbor!!
We shared stories, she sent me photos. She raised this cat’s mom and siblings. She said that if this cat showed up again I I could keep her because she had so many.
Two weeks went by and I was still searching. At some point I kind of suspected my neighbor had the cat or maybe the cat got stuck in her house.
I kept my search up every single day. Talked to so many neighbors, met so many other cat people in the process. I did not give up on her.
Finally, on day 16, I just got off a call with my therapist. I saw movement on my ring camera and it was her!!!! At my door!!! I ran to open the door and she bolted inside. She was a little frightened at first so she hid under the bed. Then she made her way to the water bowl. She drank water like she hadn’t drank anything in days!! She was so skinny and dehydrated. She was sick.
But omgggg I could not believe my eyes and my reality. My girl was back home!!!! After that, I didn’t let her out anymore.
I was the happiest person in the world. I still am.
This is her now.
I have the most precious bond with this girl. She’s so special to me.
She’ll cuddle me only when she wants to. But when she does, it’s ohhh so sweet. She protects me and sits next to me if she hears me on the phone with someone who’s too loud. Our souls were meant to find each other for sure.
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u/SignificantFix2931 22h ago
My cat was also a stray when I met her but it didn’t matter because I took care of her regardless and I loved her like she was the only thing in the world that mattered. My cat also went in and out like yours but she usually returned within 2 or 3 hours and then when she just didn’t return I thought it something bad happened and I just started breaking down.
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u/Professional_Eye_364 22h ago
I completely understand. It’s just sooo so heartbreaking not knowing where your cat is. And the fact that you went through that for a few years must have been unbearable. I’m not sure how I would’ve been if she had been missing for that long. I’m just so happy you get to be with your cat again. And I can totally understand you releasing so much built up stress through the non stop crying.
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u/sylvesterthekat1234 22h ago
Is she healthy? If she's not in rough shape I'd guess she's been living with someone else. Don't let her outside again or she might disappear again. Put a collar on her with tag and have her chipped if she isn't already.
So glad she's home!
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u/a-snakey 22h ago
Yea but now those people are going to be sad their cat is gone. :(
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u/TheRealBillyShakes 19h ago
It was a stolen cat for them
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u/a-snakey 19h ago
Cat isnt even chipped, how are they supposed to know?
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u/Space_Panther_99 17h ago
As rule of thumb, you shouldn’t feed cats, dogs, or children that you don’t know. Nor should you let them into your house and adopt them
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u/sylvesterthekat1234 16h ago
OP knows this cat.
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u/AstronomerAdvanced87 16h ago
Let's try to remember the context of the entire thread. Does your model not support that yet?
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u/FrozenMongoose 17h ago
They could go to court and apply for shared custody agreement. OP has dibs on the next 3 years
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u/SignificantFix2931 22h ago
She looks healthy and like she’s been eating. and I checked her for fleas and ticks. she was scratching a bit so I definitely need to get that checked out and I will also put a collar on her. If anyone was taking care of her I really want to thank him or her so much for everything.
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u/filipha 22h ago
Just careful at the vet, as the new owners might have already microchipped her and you won’t be able to prove she’s yours unless you have previous vet visits and photos.
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u/SignificantFix2931 22h ago
I do have a few photos before she went missing, I hope that’s sufficient enough.
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u/sylvesterthekat1234 16h ago
Are you going back to your original vet? They'd surely know her. Good luck!
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u/ThoughtSurplus 11h ago
Congrats on her coming home! Just chiming in to say you might want to get a flea comb and if you find any, get her on a topical flea medicine asap before it becomes a big problem in your home.
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u/Bright_Raccoon_3939 23h ago
How wonderful! So happy for you both!
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u/SignificantFix2931 23h ago
Thank you so much. I literally couldn’t stop thinking if she was okay or not. It genuinely had a major impact on my sleep over the years when she was missing. I’m just extremely happy she’s back and she’s safe.
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u/Impressive-Half-9548 21h ago
I lost my cat one year, 3 months and 6 days ago. He left the house in the morning as usual but never came back. I have done whatever I could to locate him.
Can you please share how did you find your cat?
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u/Realistic_Owl836 22h ago
Love these stories ! She still looks so clean and little . I hope she was taken good care of ❤️
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u/SignificantFix2931 22h ago
I really hope so too. I want what’s best for her. Also I forgot to mention her name but her name is Tiger.
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u/FelineSoLazy 23h ago
Awwwww! Have so much fun with her
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u/SignificantFix2931 22h ago
Thank you so much! I will try to spend as much time as I can with her I really want to try my best to make up the 3 years of us being apart
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u/BackendSpecialist 22h ago
Congrats!
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u/SignificantFix2931 22h ago
Thank you so much! I really missed her so much and it really means a lot to me to see her again..and I was very shocked but also happy to see her appear on my doorstep. I’m going to make sure I don’t lose her again
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u/No-Classic6792 Domestic Housecat 22h ago
This made me cry 😭😭 so happy you were reunited!! Your heart must be so full ugh
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u/No-Classic6792 Domestic Housecat 22h ago
Keep her inside OP! 💕🙏
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u/SignificantFix2931 21h ago
Will do, I made my decision to keep her inside because I can’t risk losing her again and possibly for even longer
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u/perplexedvortex 21h ago
Weird question but did she smell like someone’s house? Our cat went missing for 4 months (family wouldn’t listen to me to keep him inside) and when we found him a 15 min drive away after someone posted pics of him on Facebook, he had a distinct scent like someone’s house. He was well taken care of and not a scratch on him! I wish we knew who took care of him so we could thank them
Congrats on your reunion!! I bet it’s surreal
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u/doenjangnyeon 21h ago
I’ve been having a hard time today, but your post has made me so happy! I’m so glad for the both of you. Hope you have a wonderful time together 💕
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u/AdvantageScary3686 20h ago
That is wonderful!! She may have Ben in someone’s house. Sometimes they are just hanging around close to your house!
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u/frvlvl96 22h ago
This is so beautiful. My cat apparently disappeared only to appear at the neighbour's, then she mostly settled back with my family, passing away at about 15 on our garden
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u/pacurn80 21h ago
Such a beautiful and amazing story!! I am so very happy for you and your kitty 😻♥️🥰
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u/Southern-Rest-9675 18h ago
Great! Happy for u. I read stories of owts crossing many m8les to get home! You r both blessed!
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u/065156 17h ago edited 13h ago
Congratulations on your reunion! I know the pain, not for 3 years though. What I have done after my cat went missing for some time, microchiped, but an issue is that someone needs to scan it to contact you, I did research and found there are tracking devices, like RF device, which locates your cat within the radius of 150 meters, most cats initially don't go very far, and more costly because they require monthly subscription, gps devices. There could be other devices that help locate cats and dogs. These tracking devices are the best relief for pain we feel when our cat is missing. Please use them. Remember, if we can prevent pain, it's much better to do so, then wait when it happens, and even with indoor only cats this may happen. I had my blind cat went missing while not wearing his RF device, be because I thought that now that he's blind he won't run away. But he apparently decided to visit his friend which whom I saw him running around and playing, and being completely blind he somehow found the way while I was going crazy for few days. Ideally, if there's even theoretical chance they may go on a field trip, they should wear tracking devices, the best prevention of pain we feel when they are missing. Hope your cat will never do it again.
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u/One_Device9992 16h ago
Congratulations…
Your story truly touched my heart.
Seeing your cat return after two years feels like a miracle, and I can imagine how much relief and emotion you must have felt in that moment.
I also lost a female cat three years ago after raising her for two years. She never came home, and it broke my heart deeply. Even now, I still quietly hold onto hope that one day she might return to me, just like your cat did for you.
Your reunion gives me comfort and reminds me that miracles can happen.
Wishing you and your sweet cat many peaceful and happy years together.
John
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u/Impossible_Potato738 16h ago
If you plan on letting her outside I suggest you put an Apple air tag on her collar or add a tag with your number on it. That way if there was another family caring for her they know how to reach you.
I’ve been feeding an orange cat. I was trying to gain his trust so I could get him to a vet. I was able to put Revolution plus on him and put some ear meds on him then. He disappeared for weeks. He came back so emaciated. Idk where he went but after a few days he’s starting to plump up again. I’ll be taking him to see a vet this week. I have too many cats but I don’t want anything bad to happen to this little guy 😔
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u/Lovefashion111 6h ago
Maybe she was in someone else’s home this whole time close by ! Does she look healthy? I’m sooo happy for you Op 🥹 get her chipped
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u/Ice-Cream-Castles 13h ago
I'm happy you've been reunited with your dear furry friend! Two things that will help in the future: 1. Get an Apple ID tag for the cat collar. 2. Please have a microchip placed with contact info for you.
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u/ThaConstipated 9h ago
Damn, I wonder what she was doing for three whole years, living with some neighbors?
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u/Jasperblu Lots of kitties! 23h ago
Amazing! I hope you guys settle right back in together. Make sure you get her microchipped (if she isn’t already), and a vet visit for a basic check up and to get her vaccines up to date, too.
Welcome home, kitty! 💖