We love cats not only because they’re cute and awesome and perfect, but also because they’re independent little explorers who love going on adventures of their own. However, it sometimes poses problems for their owners who are worried sick at home not knowing when their furry friend is coming back home. This is why animal activists have long been encouraging people to microchip their pets – this way, there’s a far greater chance to reunite with your beloved friend if it goes missing.
Recently, a story about a cute orange boy named Cat went viral, for the adorable feline went missing and didn’t come home for 536 days straight. His owners – Mindy and Luke Criner – were just beginning to lose hope when Cat finally reappeared in their lives, purring and meowing for their attention.
More info: Facebook
This cat named Cat was missing for 536 days
Image credits: Mindy Criner
The feline was adopted from the Peninsula Regional Animal Shelter in Virginia and was very shy at first. He wasn’t very keen on playing with other kittens, so his would-be owners decided that he needs a loving home to bring out his confidence. “You could see in his eyes he just needed love,” Mindy, one of Cat’s owners, told the media. As it turned out, it was really the love that Cat needed – soon he gained enough confidence to roam around his yard, exploring the new territory. Sadly, one time, Cat didn’t return from his adventures.
His owners were worried sick and were starting to lose hope
Image credits: Mindy Criner
The Criner family immediately spread the word about their missing furry friend on Lost & Found Pets – Hampton Roads, VA, Facebook page. They also put Cat’s litter box and food outside, hoping that the smell would bring him home, however, to no avail. The posters and little housing stations all over the neighborhood that the Criners had their friends checking all the time didn’t help either. The family was starting to lose hope.
When one day they got a voicemail from animal control
Image credits: Mindy Criner
Every night, Mindy and Luke would walk around their neighborhood in hopes of finding Cat but were unsuccessful. “Weeks turned to a year, then a little more and every day, that crack in my broken heart got a little bigger,” Mindy shared with the media. Then, to everyone’s surprise, someone found Cat.
Turns out, a man was taking care of Cat for a whole year
Image credits: Mindy Criner
“I thought it had to be a mistake. The voicemail from animal control said to get in touch with Peninsula Regional Animal Shelter to find him. I drove to that shelter as fast as the law allowed and walked through the door already fighting back tears,” Mindy revealed. When she arrived at the shelter, she was told that a man had actually been feeding Cat for about a year, as he thought that the orange feline was stray. After Cat was hit by a car and, luckily, survived, the man got in touch with animal control who scanned for a microchip and discovered who Cat really was. Mindy quickly got in contact with the aforementioned man and drove to his house. There, she found Cat sitting on the porch and having a snack. As soon as the two saw each other, it was as if no time had passed at all.
When Mindy drove to the man’s house, she was met by Cat who instantly started purring after seeing her
Image credits: Mindy Criner
“I sat on the steps and let him come over to me in case he was scared, and he got right in my lap and purred,” Mindy told the media. “I started walking towards the car where my husband (who has an incredibly distinctive voice), Luke, was talking to the guy that had been feeding him and Cat purred louder than I knew possible and gave me that first super long head boop. It’s like he nudged that little piece of my broken heart back in place.” Then, she added: “I hope that our story will give others missing their pets hope, and maybe those who have unknowingly taken in someone else’s pet will check to see if they’re scanned so that pet can have their happy reunion with their family, and someone else can feel the overwhelming joy we’re experiencing.”
Here’s what people online had to say
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