'Adopting the wrong cat': Devastated owner whose cat ran away 3 months ago finds her at the shelter, adopts her instantly, only for her real cat to come back 2 days later, leaving her with two purrfectly identical fluffy felines

Author image for Mariel Ruvinsky
Mariel Ruvinsky • Writer and Editor
Nov 12, 2025 10:00 AM EST

Our cat running away is, by far, one our worst nightmares. We have been there. Our cat has run away and come back exactly 24 hours later. But those 24 hours were some of the worst we've ever had. Been there, never want to be there again. That's what it's like from our perspective. We imagine that from the cat's purrspective, it's quite different. For them, we imagine that it's like going on an adventure. Most of the times, they know where to come back to, we believe that. They're just choosing how long their adventure should be… while we suffer in the corner waiting for them to come back.

All of which makes this story way funnier than it was probably intended to be. 3 months, this cat was gone. 3 months of excruciating sadness by the owner. And then one day, in the shelter, she finds her cat! Or at least that's what she thought. Had her real cat not come back, she probably never would have known the difference. Any changes in the cat would probably have been attributed to some new trauma. But no, after 3 whole months of being gone, barely 2 days after this woman adopted the "wrong" cat, her kitty decided to waltz back home. 

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  • 01
    photo of two identical black cats
    via Unsplash / Viktor Talashuk - viktortalashuk

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02

    "[Today I messed up] by adopting the wrong cat"

    For context, my cat Juniper has been missing for 3 months. She is an all black Bombay cat with overly large eyes (even for a Bombay, they're almost cartoonish.) I've had her since she was a year old, and now she's about 2 years old, and incredibly particular.
    via zerolosts
  • 03
    People say cats don't have personalities, mine does. Juniper hates being picked up, hates the camera, hates a lot of things. Is completely obsessed with 1. me, 2. sauces. Don't ask me why.
    via zerolosts
  • 04
    When she got out and went missing for so long, I was devastated, and finally had to assume the worst. I found myself at an animal shelter about 45 minutes away from where I lived, looking at the cats.
    via zerolosts
  • 05
    I prefer to adopt cats that are at least a year, if not older, so I was away from the kitten area. Suddenly, I come upon an all black Bombay cat with overly large eyes. My heart stops. I open the cage to pet her and she puts her head in my hand. I can't believe it. Is this my cat????
    via zerolosts
  • 06
    I try to pick her up and she resists. My mind is racing, it has to be her, she must've gotten her collar off and jumped in someone's car or something!!! I of course, adopt her immediately and bring her home.
    via zerolosts
  • 07
    Two days later, who shows up at the door but Juniper, still in her collar... after 3 months. I couldn't believe it. Two cats. Same age, same look, same mannerisms. They're identical.
    via zerolosts
  • 08
    I decided to name my bonus cat Jinx after my favorite TV show/Video Game character. While it certainly is a happy accident, I absolutely must get these two different collars as even I cannot tell them apart at this point in time.
    via zerolosts
  • 09
    TL;DR My cat went missing for 3 months, I thought I found her at a shelter and adopted her, it turned out to be her doppelgänger when my actual cat showed up 2 days later.
    via zerolosts
  • 10

    "Idiot #1 (Juniper)"

    Cheezburger Image 10573770240
    via zerolosts
  • 11

    "Idiot #2 (Jinx)"

    IE MO
    via zerolosts

  • You titled this by saying that you adopted the “wrong cat”, but we don't think that you adopted the wrong cat at all. This cat was meant to be with you - and with its twin. How do we know that? Because we can only imagine the chaos and the shenanigans that these two will bring. It was written in the stars. Meant to be. 

  • 12
    EDIT: They've both been microchipped and identified as my cat, as well as uploaded to a petfinder website!!
    via zerolosts
  • 13
    MallUpstairs2886 Do they get along? Because this sounds like it was meant to be.
    via MallUpstairs2886
  • 14
    zerolosts OP Not quite yet!! but they are sharing the space at the moment :) I'm letting them slowly get used to each other, it helps that they're so similar in temperament!
    via zerolosts
  • 15
    photo of two identical black cats yawning
    via Unsplash / Dare Artworks - dareartworks

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • It's just a matter of time. We are not worried at all. The moment that they realize they can put tricks on you by pretending to be one another, it'll be over. They will be friends, and you… you will run the risk of losing your mind. 

  • 16
    Shroudroid Juniper sensed her imminent replacement through the feline- force and returned.
    via Shroudroid
  • 17
    zerolosts OP she is very jealous tbh
    via zerolosts
  • 18
    RamonaLittle Is it possible they're siblings?
    via RamonaLittle
  • 19
    zerolosts OP i'm not sure!! maybe someday if i'm curious enough i'll get them tested :)
    via zerolosts
  • 20
    photo of two identical black cats outside
    via Unsplash / Andréas BRUN

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 21
    Dangerous-Frame6106 I hope you dont let your cats wander. Cats should stay indoors. Maybe look into chipping them
    via Dangerous-Frame6106
  • 22
    zerolosts OP i don't she slipped out while i was on crutches
    via zerolosts
  • 23
    BitBit13 You found a duplicat
    via BitBit13
  • 24
    paulinaiml The impostor was a copycat
    via paulinaiml

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aww wholesome hilarious cat adorable adoption heartwarming cute adopted lol funny cats ridiculous silly story Cats funny
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