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Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsCat Who Was Lost For 11 Years Finally Reunites With Mom
He started cuddling with her right away 😍😭BY CAITLIN JILL ANDERS
When Tiger first started showing up in Carol OConnells yard about three years ago, he wouldnt let her get anywhere near him. She could tell the senior cat was sweet, but he was scared.
He would show up and then disappear for months at a time, Lynne Meloccaro, executive director of the Dutchess County SPCA (DCSPCA) in New York, told The Dodo. She fed him but couldnt get close to him for a long time.
OConnell works at the DCSPCA and has seen her share of nervous animals, so she knew if she was patient and kind, Tiger might come around eventually. In the past three years, O'Connell and her son Dan have worked hard to gain Tiger's trust, until the cat finally felt comfortable enough to approach them and even show them affection. From the way he acted, it seemed as if Tiger may have had a home at one point. On a whim, OConnell brought a scanner home from work to see if he was chipped and miraculously, he was.
Overjoyed, OConnell told the shelter and they contacted the family listed on Tigers chip, John and Maggie Welz. When the shelter workers spoke with the Welzes, they couldn't believe what they were hearing: Tiger had been missing for 11 years.
When he was only 3 years old, Tiger had been spooked by something on Halloween night and somehow escaped his house and disappeared. His family searched desperately and put up posters everywhere hoping someone would find him. When they sold their house, they asked the new owners to keep an eye out for him and continued their search from their new home, but eventually, they had to accept that Tiger wasnt coming home.
His family had given up on finding him, and we werent even sure they would want him again after all these years, but once they got over the shock that he was still alive, they didnt hesitate they wanted him back right away, Meloccaro said.
When the Welzes got the call 11 years later that Tiger had finally been found, they couldnt believe it, either. It was especially shocking how healthy Tiger was, considering how long he'd been on his own. He had an injured eye and a few skin issues and was underweight, but otherwise, Tiger was totally fine.
Some people have since come forward and said they had been feeding him for a while over the years, Meloccaro said. He survived because enough kind people in the community helped him, though apparently no one was able to capture him and bring him to us earlier. When he was finally caught by Carol and Dan, he didnt resist and seemed happy to be touched and petted. Maybe he had decided hed lived on the streets long enough, and wanted to come inside again.
As soon as she could, Maggie Welz rushed over to the shelter, eager to see her beloved Tiger again. No one had any idea if Tiger would remember his mom or not, as it had been so long since hed last seen her.
When Welz walked into the room and saw Tiger, she immediately rushed over and scooped him into her arms
and it didnt take long for Tiger to start cuddling her right back.
Tiger just looked at her, sniffed her, and then rested his head on her shoulder, Meloccaro said. It was clear that he was not going to have any objection to having her be his human from now on.
Tiger is now back home where he belongs and completely settled into life with his family again. Its clear he missed them so much and has taken to sleeping curled up with his mom every night. His family thought they would never see him again, but thanks to the kindness of their community hes finally home, and theyre so overjoyed to have him back safe and sound.
https://www.thedodo.com/close-to-home/cat-reunited-with-family-after-11-years
redstateblues
(10,565 posts)They are amazing animals.
erronis
(15,298 posts)kiri
(794 posts)I love our indoor kitty, now a 14 yrs elder. But several times I have had to shout "stupid cat".
There was once when she escaped somehow from the front door, and despite calling, did not return.
Next morning after a light snow, I saw cat footprints leading from the front porch down the side of the house to the back deck. I had no idea the cat understood the geographics. Cold and wet she agreed to come back in.
Stupid cat.
Scarsdale
(9,426 posts)Poor baby must have missed his family so very much. Handsome guy. Glad he is back where he belongs, with his family again. Chipping is the only way to go. Without that he might never have been reunited with his family.
catbyte
(34,402 posts)PatrickforO
(14,576 posts)Wonderful that Tiger has been reunited with his Forever-Mom. I just love it when you post stories like this.