Just when this animal guardian thought she’d lost her feline companion forever, a beautiful turn of events led them to reunite after receiving a call from animal control. The cat had been missing for 536 days!
Mindy Criner and her husband, Luke, adopted Cat from the Peninsula Regional Animal Shelter in Virginia. Initially, the cat was quite timid, often observing other cats playing from the corner. But Mindy understood that this behavior stemmed from the absence of one crucial element in Cat’s life – a loving family.
“You could see in his eyes he just needed love,” she told The Dodo.
It took time and effort but eventually, Cat warmed up to his new family and home. When Mindy and Luke had a baby, Cat loved him with all his heart.
That’s when his parents knew that they made the right decision of adopting and giving the once shy kitten a chance.
When Cat had warmed up to his surroundings, he found an activity he liked to do – wandering around the yard and exploring outside his home. One day, Mindy called him in after his usual stroll, but Cat was nowhere to be found.
Mindy became anxious and immediately contacted the owner of the Lost & Found Pets – Hampton Roads, VA, Facebook page to seek help in spreading the word about her lost pet. She and her husband worked tirelessly to try and bring Cat back home.
They placed a litter box and food outside, hoping that Cat would recognize the familiar scent. They set up small shelters throughout the neighborhood and had friends check them regularly.
Additionally, they posted flyers everywhere and diligently searched the neighborhood every night, calling Cat’s name, but unfortunately, they were unable to find him.
“As weeks turned into months, and then a little more time passed, the crack in my broken heart grew larger,” Mindy shared.
Then, 536 days after Cat went missing, Missy received a call from animal control informing her that someone had found him.
“I couldn’t believe it,” she said. “The voicemail from animal control instructed me to contact Peninsula Regional Animal Shelter to claim him. I rushed to the shelter with tears in my eyes.”
Upon arriving at the shelter, she was told that a man, who had mistaken Cat for a stray, had been feeding him for over a year. After Cat was involved in a car accident and survived, the man contacted animal control. They scanned Cat for a microchip and discovered that he had an owner.
Mindy got in touch with the man and then drove to his residence. When she arrived, Cat was sitting on the porch, enjoying his meal.
“I sat on the steps and allowed him to approach me, in case he was scared, and he came right into my lap and purred,” Mindy recounted the moment.
“I walked towards the car where my husband, Luke, who has a very distinctive voice, was talking to the man who had been feeding Cat, and Cat purred louder than I could have imagined. He gave me a long head boop, as if nudging that little piece of my broken heart back into place.”
As soon as Cat saw his owners, he recognized that it was finally time for him to return home. Upon his arrival, Cat quickly settled in, greeting his fellow furry siblings and reclaiming his usual spots as if he had never been gone.
Mindy and Luke have been spending as much time as possible bonding with Cat and re-establishing their connection with each other.
“I hope that our story will inspire others who are missing their pets to have hope, and perhaps those who have unknowingly taken in someone else’s pet will check for a microchip so that the pet can be happily reunited with their family, and someone else can experience the overwhelming joy that we are feeling,” Mindy expressed.
Every story of a lost pet deserves a happy ending, and we are thrilled that Cat has found his way back home!
Rewritten Source: https://mypositiveoutlooks.com/cat-reunite-with-owner-moms-after-being-lost-2yrs/