Lost Cats Found After Years Being Missing Provide Essential Inspiration
Lost cats can turn up in the most unbelievable ways, and this story is packed with those kinds of reunions.
From pets that vanished for months to cats that were missing for years, these images show owners getting a second chance they never expected. Some cats were found through shelters, some through microchips, and some simply wandered back home after a long time away.
It is a reminder that even after years of silence, a missing cat story can still end with a happy surprise. Read on.
1. A reunion with his 19-year-old cat after 7 years
The cat went missing a long time ago, right when Robert, the owner, was preparing to move from California to Ohio. He decided to abandon his plans and remained in California for the whole year, searching for his missing buddy.
“I remember at one point I was praying, and I said, ‘God, I’ll do anything, just bring my Chebon back,’” Robert stated in a video posted on the Ventura County Animal Services. But it looked like the cat was lost forever, and Robert had to move on.
Seven years later, a lady spotted a kitty who looked sick, so she cached it and took it to the vet. Fortunately, the cat was microchipped, and they could easily find the owner’s name. They contacted Robert immediately.
He immediately recognized his friend and started crying. Finally, the two buddies were back together.
2. "Four Years Ago My Beloved Cat Moose Went Missing. Yesterday, A Kind Family Who Had Been Feeding Him Recently Finally Took Him To Check For A Microchip"
"The family who contacted had only been feeding him for a week or two. Not sure what his four years prior to that looked like but he was found pretty far from where he was lost so I assume that he moved with a family at some point and then either escaped or was left or what have you. Also he's much fatter than when I knew him so I have to believe he was a house cat "
3. "The Cat Returns... After 2 Years!!!! received Call From Vet This Morning "We Have Your Cat!" My Cat Hicks Went Missing 2 Yrs Ago! Suspect He Was Scared Off By Local Kids. Watched As He Recalled The House, Now Sitting Here Healthy Affectionate, Purring. What A Day! Tip.. Get Your Cat Chipped!"
"Its horrible when they first go missing. No news is good news though. It's weird to see him doing things in the house that he used to do two years ago. He also used the litter tray in same old spot first time."
4. "Lost Cat Returned Home - Eastern Suburbs"
"A bit over 5 years ago my wife and I moved house, about a 7 minute drive from the old place. A little over a month after that, one of our 2 cats (my cat, Artimus, the first pet I had ever gotten myself) got out, and didn't return home.
I went out looking, called the local vets and the shelters, spoke to the neighbours at the old house, and waited for a phone call which didn't come. I checked back in every week for a while, but no luck.
Then at the start of December, just before my birthday, I get a phone call from Animal Aid.
"We have your cat."
It was the best birthday present I could have received."
5. Cat named Cat jumps into his owner’s arms after 536 days of absence
A cat called Cat was missing for precisely 536 days. His owners were devastated and starting to lose hope. One day they received a voicemail from the animal control department. It turned out that one nice man was taking care of Cat. When she drove to his house, she was greeted by Cat, who immediately started purring.
6. Cat is reunited with her family after 18 months, and she is ecstatic…
7. Reunited after seven years
8. Cat returned home after almost 18 months
9. "After 8 Years On The Road My Cat Finally Returned Home!"
"8 years ago my cat ran away from home, yesterday we were called by animal control that they picked up a red cat and read his chip, and it turned out to be my long lost friend!"
10. Kitty missing for five years was found 1,200 miles away
11. "Missing One-Eyed Cat Reunited With Family After 11 Years"
"She is even responding to her original name"
12. "After 14 Months Owner Finds Her Missing Cat Twice The Size, Turns Out He Was Living In A Pet Food Factory"
"I think he’s been enjoying himself feasting for the past year. He’s wasn’t a big eater before, but he always had to eat very quickly before his brothers stole it.
He was probably glad he didn’t have to compete with them to eat for once. He has a huge appetite now though.
I’ve had to leave him with a big bucket of food; he just won’t stop eating. We’re not going to put him on a diet though, he’s just a bit rounder, but he’s a perfect cat picture."
13. Cat lost back in 2004 during a hurricane reunites with her family after 14 years
“As soon as I looked at that face, I knew exactly who he was. A little bit older, kind of like me!"
14. "My Cat Went Missing A Year Ago. Me And My Wife Found Him While On A Bike Ride. He Came Running Right To Us Crying And Now My Whole Entire Year Has Been Made!"
"It really is the greatest feeling finding a pet that has gone missing. To be honest me and my wife came to the conclusion that he passed after a couple months of being missing. What a relief now!"
15. "The Prodigal Daughter Has Returned. After Missing In Australian Bushland For 3 Years"
"We assumed she was dead, but our first cat has returned. This makes life very awkward."
16. "My Cat That's Been Missing For 1.5 Years Has Been Found! Welcome Home Princess"
"Princess was mostly an indoor cat. I let her outside a little more each day then one day she disappeared. I'm assuming she got catnapped because she was found today one hour drive from where she was taken.
A vet scanned her microchip and called my cell. A nice lady that only had her for 10 days took her to the vet and got her all cleaned up and free of fleas. I got the lady's number and she let me have my pet back with no issues.
I am so fortunate she is in good condition and that my boyfriend was able to drive one hour each way go pick her up today."
17. "11 Months Ago, While I Was Out Of Town My Cat Ran Away, After Months Of Searching I Found Her In A Shelter, A Day After Being Adopted. I Had To Accept That My Friend Of 12 Years Was Gone. Today, Nearly 11 Months Later Her New Owner Emailed Me, I Was Able To Bring Her Home Again."
18. Reunited after five years
Panther was taken to a shelter in a city 15 miles away after he ran away. Later a woman adopted and gave him to her parents. Amazingly, the lady's parents also turned out to be the next-door neighbors of Nguhi's mom and dad.
19. "My Sister Got A Call From Animal Control Today. Her Cat Tom-Tom Has Been Found"
20. "After A Year Of Being Missing My Cat Ozzy Just Walked Up To Me"
"I was walking my Chorki (Chihuahua Yorki mix) when Ozzy walked over and mewed at me.
Ozzy was the only cat that would respond to his name by running to me. So I called it to see if it was him. It was."
Kim Freeman, a founder of Lost Cat Finder agency, says that as a professional lost cat finder, she presumes the numbers of missing cats are under-reported.
“Not only do cat owners rarely report the incident (if the cat is not chipped), many owners simply assume the worst and do not perform a valid search,” she clarified.
Kim also said that cats are much trickier to find than dogs. “Dogs run out in the open where people see them and worry, while cats hide, and even if seen, no one thinks twice about a cat out and about.”
“Complicating matters even further - when people do notice a new cat, they usually assume the cat is either dumped, abandoned, or stray (as opposed to the very likely category of lost).”
The estimates for lost pets are hard to make, but the ASPCA tried back in 2012 to conduct a unique survey that included 1,015 households.
Still, the findings show a different picture. “While some of those dogs and cats are, in fact, lost, many of them are likely to be dogs and cats that are truly homeless.”
22. "11 Years Ago My Cat Went Missing And Today He Returned!"
"I'm so pumped to see this guy again. T-Shirt, named after the character from the T-Bag tv series, apparently has been living around an apartment block being fed by the lovely people that live there.
One of the residents brought him in after he was injured and wanted to get him fixed and look after him. As much as I wanted T shirt back, the guy and the cat have been together for so long so I agreed with his request to let him own the cat... with visits allowed lol.
If you find a cat, get a vet to scan the chip!"
23. cat is back home after 10 years
24. "My Friend Just Went To Pet Cats At Our Local Animal Shelter, And Found Her Cat That Had Been Missing For Over A Year"
25. "Lost My Cat One Year Ago, Got A Call Yesterday From The Animal Shelter Saying They Have My Kitty. Microchips Work"
"Update! Syd is adjusting beautifully. He's back to purring and making muffins on my arm. Things couldn't be better!"
26. "Three Years Ago I Posted Here About My Beautiful Cat Having Run Away And How Upset I Was. Today She Was Found And Picked Up By The Pound, Safe And Sound Back Home, As Confident And As Loving As Ever. Welcome Home Arya!"
"My guess is another family took her in and didn't bother to check to see if she was owned. The fridge door was opened today and she came running not the behaviour of a street cat! Plus she's very healthy"
27. This Cat Found Came Back Home After 13 Years
After spending years searching for her beloved cat, Janet Adamowicz suddenly got a call from a vet 40 miles away.
“I thought it was weird, but I couldn’t believe it when I got to the vets and they had her there and she still remembered me”
“I don’t know where she had been, I think possibly a stray but kept being fed by strangers or catching her own food”
Some of these reunions took years, but they still found their way home.
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