Finding Their Way Back, by Kathy Wilson

Abby Makes Her Great Escape

So many times when a cat goes missing, they never find their way home. But there are also those magical moments when they suddenly reappear.  

My cat Abby was a great example of this ─ an indoor cat for her first 3.5 years until she let herself out the kitchen door one day and promptly disappeared. I called her a hundred times and looked up and down the street for hours, but she was nowhere to be found. I asked neighbors to look in their backyards and garages, but there was no sign of her. I'd only had her for 6 months and couldn't believe that I'd already lost her. 

I remember wondering how a cat that had only been inside could recognize the outside of her house if she was lost and needed to come home. I still can't explain how they do it, but Abby came home a few days later and just sauntered in as if nothing had changed. She became an indoor/outdoor cat from that point forward, coming and going as she pleased until she passed away at the ripe old age of 17.

Charlie Goes Missing for Two Months, Then Magically Reappears

Charlie is a sweet 5-yr-old tuxedo cat who bolted off during a winter storm and literally disappeared into the night. His family posted 100s of flyers throughout our neighborhood and we all kept an eye out for weeks, but there was no sign of him. His great escape was particularly worrisome because Charlie had no teeth and it was going to be very difficult for him to feed himself in the wild.

Then, after 2 months when pretty much all hope was lost, he suddenly reappeared ─ standing at the front door of his home waiting to be let in. He was thin and clearly in need of some TLC but other than that, none the worse for wear. Where had he been all that time? How had he survived? Nobody knows, but suffice it to say, his whole extended community was thrilled (and frankly quite amazed) that he was home!

Drones Help Bring Kai Back to His Family

Kai was a rescue from Puerto Rico settling into his new home on Cape Cod when he escaped through an open gate and took off. Out on his big adventure, he covered many miles across a cold and unfamiliar landscape. He was tracked by searchers on the ground and spotted in towns all across the Massachusetts North Shore, but no one could catch him.

Then Aerial Systems, a company that specializes in drone animal rescues, took to the air to pinpoint Kai’s location. And once he was found, Missing Dogs Massachusetts went out to rescue him. When Kai saw his rescuers, he ran right up to them, tongue hanging out and tail wagging. After being on the run for 6 days, he headed home to his very relieved and happy owner ─ back to a nice warm bed and with many stories to tell. 

You can see a detailed account of Kai’s rescue here.

Cat Left Behind in Yosemite Travels Over 1000 Miles to Find His Way Back Home

A couple from Salinas had taken their cats on previous trips with no unpleasant surprises. But during a recent trip to Yosemite, something scared their cat Rayne Beau, and he ran off into the forest. They spent days searching for him without a single sighting, and eventually they had to make the agonizing decision to return home without him.

Two months later, a woman in Roseville found a thin bedraggled stray and took him to the local SPCA, where they were able to read his microchip and contact the owners, Susanne and Benny Anguiano. From Yellowstone to Roseville is about 835 miles, and just another 200 miles separates Roseville from Salinas. While trying to return home on his own, Rayne Beau had traveled over 800 miles, lost 40% of his body weight, and lowered his blood sugar and protein levels to near starvation levels. Then a good Samaritan stepped in and saved the day, finding him just in the nick of time and returning him to his loving family, where he has made a full recovery from his long trip home.