After 5 Years Of Caring For A Rescued Senior 'Stray', Man Finds Out He Had An Owner All This Time

Hi, friends! How is everyone feeling this Tuesday? We recently stumbled upon the most heartwarming rescue story ever and couldn't wait to share. Okay, if we're being completely honest it may not be the most heartwarming just because of all the ups and downs that entail. But all that emotional stress is definitely worth the read because spoiler alert, there's a happy ending. 

As you've already read by the title, this story talks about a man who adopted and rescued a cat from the streets… or so he thought. One day this man decided to shake things up and live life on the edge, so he thought what better way than to move countries and start a new life? Like the good cat owner he is, he knew he couldn't leave his Tuxedo cat behind so he got ready to chip him. That's when the story gets juicy so we won't spoil the rest but we hope you enjoy your read! 

Author image for elina lee elina lee
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  • 01

    "Let me tell you a little story about Tux"

    Cat
    via u/envy221

    Before we continue with the story, we do have to note that this is one handsome tuxedo man. Quite the sophisticated fella, with that stash of his. But also - the whiskers? And that little white dress shirt. Ugh, adorbs! Okay… now back to the story. 

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  • 02
    Eye - envy221 OP. 3 days ago edited 3 days ago Tux was a "stray" that I found under one of my old houses.
    via u/envy221
  • 03
    Organism - I was giving him cuddles and feeding him for a couple of months until one day he came inside and there was clearly something very wrong with him. Tux did not like coming inside yet was very insistent about coming in then lay in his cat bed that he had literally never cared to even look at before. I took him to the vet in the morning.
    via u/envy221
  • 04
    Font - The vet said he had a serious bladder blockage and would be dead in 24 hours if we didn't act. I said do whatever it takes to save him no matter the cost. It took three days with a catheter in and $900 and then I brought him home. I couldn't keep him inside the recommended time because he didn't know how to use a litter box.
    via u/envy221
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  • 05
    Organism - A few years later I moved and I took him with me. I asked the vets how to manage a cat who doesn't know how to use a litter box and they told me to put a layer of dirt on top of the litter. This worked well and I taught him how to use the cat door. Tux very much loved the freedom that came with the cat door.
    via u/envy221

    "Tux very much loved the freedom that came with the cat door." We bet! Anytime a stray cat is introduced to the indoors, it's important they feel like it's their choice to be inside with you and not that they're being forced against their will. 

  • 06
    Font - A few years after that I was planning on moving to Australia from New Zealand and taking Tux with me. I took Tux to the vet to get his microchip placed (a requirement for the move) and when the vet scanned him they found he already had a microchip installed. I was stressed (at this stage I had had him for five years) but ultimately agreed it might be good to find the owner and have him returned to his owner rather than take him overseas, despite the fact I was a little concerned because T
    via u/envy221
  • 07
    Font - The vet contacted the registered owner and found that she was in a rest home. They told me she was happy for me to keep Tux as she is in a rest home now and can't really have him there. She wants to say goodbye.
    via u/envy221
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  • 08
    Font - I talk to the previous owner over text as she is deaf and confirm she's happy for me to keep Tux. She wants to see him before we leave to say goodbye. She is relieved he is alive and that I have been taking care of him - someone told her that he had been shot so she is just relieved to hear he is alive and well.
    via u/envy221
  • 09
    Font - Tux and I visit his previous owner. Tux is not impressed - he hides under the bed the entire visit. I have a great conversation with the previous owner - she says she is glad he is alive, he used to be named Wehi (a Māori name, named for her late husband) and confirmed she lost him about a year before I found him. He got lost when she was moved to the rest home and used to live right down the road from me. She's so glad that I found him and took care of him. She says she's sad to give him
    via u/envy221
  • 10
    Font - Tux and I visit her a couple of times before we leave. At some point we call the registration office together and get his registration transferred from her to me. Tux is unhappy during all of these visits and hides under the bed but she seems to be very happy to have someone to talk to and she's being so wonderful letting me keep him so we keep going. My flatmate takes a nice picture of Tux and we get it printed and framed to give to Tux's previous owner.
    via u/envy221
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  • 11
    Font - Eventually Tux and I move to Australia and the communication from his previous owner drops off. Tux needs to be an indoor cat in his new home in Australia because there is a cat curfew. Tux doesn't care because the birds in Australia are huge and he isn't used to that and he's frightened of them. Tux has finally learned to use a litter box without dirt on top. Tux eventually seems bored so we adopt a kitten, Tux and the kitten get on well and play together daily.
    via u/envy221
  • 12
    Font - Tux has had quite a journey, but he's happy and healthy as of today! His previous owner clarified his age for me - he is about 10. He is such a sweet boy, he has come a long way from being terrified to being inside. I feel terrible about not taking him to get microchip scanned earlier, but he just didn't have any sort of markers that would indicate he was from a home. He was ratty, terrified of humans, terrified of being inside a house, and would wolf down food and water like his life dep
    via u/envy221
  • 13
    Font - Now Tux spends a lot of time with his little sister, they play all the time. He lives inside all the time now and seems to be quite happy with that arrangement - I am happy about it too because he used to come home with abscesses from fighting quite a lot and I would prefer for him to NOT be injured frequently. Tux seems to be thriving and he loves head scratches, he also loves lactose-free milk (but only gets it sometimes!). His fave food is the Dine packets of tuna and whitefish.
    via u/envy221
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  • 14
    Human body - I'm just glad that it all worked out for me and for Tux and that he seems super happy! Here's to anyone who has rescue tuxies.
    via u/envy221
  • 15
    Font - envy221 OP 3 days ago I feel incredibly spoiled that the previous owner let me keep him. It could have so easily gone in the other direction! Tux is currently enjoying eating the vet prescribed kitten food that we buy for the young one (we tried to keep their food separate in the beginning but it's just too hard) which I'm sure is delicious as apparently kitten dry food has a lot more fat and nutrients than regular dry food. We're about to transition the kitten to regular adult cat prescr
    via u/envy221

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wholesome adoption heartwarming senior-cat streets senior stressful hooman Cats stray rescue
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