According to a national study on lost pets conducted by the ASPCA, 15% had lost a dog or a cat in the past five years. Only 74% of missing cats were finally found, but of that percentage, the vast majority (95%) returned home on their own. And that makes the search for a missing cat even more complicated.
So, imagine, after all the years go by and there’s barely any glimmer of hope left to ever hold your beloved furry friend again, you experience something that’s best described as a miracle.
Bored Panda compiled this list full of the most heart-melting moments of lost cats reuniting with their owners. Sometimes, it’s what feels like the longest year of their lives, other times it takes half a decade, and on rare occasions, owners lose count of years gone without their cat altogether. But I choose to believe in happy endings no matter how long you have to wait.
#22 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."
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61points
#23 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!"
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58points
#25 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.
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53points
#26 Nguhi Got A Kitty When She Was 9-Years-Old. They Lived Together Until 5 Years Ago When Panther Just Disappeared
It turns out that after he ran away, Panther was taken to a shelter in a city 15 miles away. Whilst there, a woman adopted and kept him for a few years before giving him to her parents. As luck would have it, the woman’s parents also turned out to be the next door neighbors of Nguhi’s parents.
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42points