Friendly neighborhood man finds a missing cat behind a dumpster, restores hope for her worried hooman family: 'I've been ugly crying for days. Now it's happy tears!'

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Ayala Sorotsky • Writer and Editor
Dec 2, 2025 3:00 PM EST

Losing a cat is like losing a piece of your heart. Every cat pawrent will understand, every person who has had the honor of raising a feline friend in their family knows this gut-wrenching feeling that comes after the thought of "Where's the cat? I haven't seen them for several hours", or "I just saw the cat bolt through the door! Quickly, catch him!" It's like your heart drops through you straight to the ground, a freezing chill of horror. Knowing your cat is not in their safe place, their home, is a difficult realization. When a cat goes missing, a hole is torn into the feline family they belong to.

Gathering the strength to hold on to hope that your cat will return takes a lot of resilience. And some people have that, as if losing their cat ignites a fire in them to stay positive until they find their feline friend. Like this vigilant family who stood steadfast until they found their cat, which we wrote about here not long ago. Learning your cat's habits can really be the difference between a lost cat, and a cat who's safe inside their home.

This next cat's story is one with a happy ending. Sure, she was alone for some time, wandering the streets and alleys, but eventually - one person spotted her, hunched behind a dumpster, hiding from the world. And it's all thanks to the family's relentless publishing of the lost cat's likeness that led to this friendly neighborhood man recognizing her. Now the cat is safe, sound, and at home.

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  • 01
    My cat was missing for 72 hrs. Someone in my neighborhood spotted her behind a dumpster because of our flyer. Never give up hope and always BOLO for missing cats. I'm so happy ②
    via Important_Cod_8970
  • 02
    Cheezburger Image 10581321216
    via Important_Cod_8970

  • Now that's some spot-on spotting. And that couldn't have happened without the meticulous work of the family, spreading awareness of their lost kitty. Not giving up hope was so worth it.

  • 03
    imnotpaulyd_ipromise Amazing! So happy for you
    via imnotpaulyd_ipromise
  • 04
    OP Important_Cod_8970 I'm so happy! She has never escaped before. My child's friend left the door open.
    via Important_Cod_8970
  • 05
    Tatsandacat I had flyers up for my missing deaf boy. I also took colored chalk and drew information on the sidewalk around the neighborhood.
    via Tatsandacat
  • 06
    That's what the person who spotted him saw. Took 5 days as he would go the food people were leaving out, but since he couldn't hear me calling he would vanish if anyone got close. I finally camped out in the yard he visited most with his travel bed. Sense of smell I feel did most of the work.
    via Tatsandacat
  • 07
    OP Important_Cod_8970 Bless you!
    via Important_Cod_8970
  • 08
    Bobby Tables829 I bet she's as happy as you. "Living behind a dumpster was terrible, hooman! There were no treats anywhere!"
    via BobbyTables829
  • 09
    OP Important_Cod_8970 It was a dumpster behind our local pizza place. The 2 things she loves most are cheese and cardboard. I really should have thought of that sooner.
    via Important_Cod_8970
  • 10
    backpackwayne Awesome. There is nothing like that feeling after giving up hope and to have them reappear.
    via backpackwayne
  • 11
    OP Important_Cod_8970 Our male cat got out, too. He cried like a baby, and we found him immediately. Females hide. I'm so glad they are home!
    via Important_Cod_8970
  • 12
    Money-Detective-6631 It was a miracle you found your lost kitty..She must have been so scared and hungry behind that dumpster...She must be so happy to get home so she can get all the extra treats she deserves....
    via Money-Detective-6631
  • 13
    OP Important_Cod_8970 Tuna is on the menu!
    via Important_Cod_8970

  • Aww, yes! This cat deserves all the love, affection, and treats. Tuna included. She needs to feel welcome in her home, to overcome to trauma of being lost. She needs all the yummies the family can give her.

  • 14
    defiantnoodle Be on the look out, I think
    via defiantnoodle
  • 15
    OP Important_Cod_8970 Yes
    via Important_Cod_8970
  • 16
    StanLeeMarvin How far away is the pizza place?
    via StanLeeMarvin
  • 17
    OP Important_Cod_8970 1/2 block. I live in the city, and there are a million hiding spots.
    via Important_Cod_8970
  • 18
    JohannS_Bach Cats be runnng away from a clean safe home just to be sleeping behind a dumpster H
    via JohannS_Bach
  • 19
    OP Important_Cod_8970 To be fair, it was at a pizza place, she loves cheese and cardboard. I really should have known...
    via Important_Cod_8970
  • 20
    Prestigious-Oven3465 • 19h ago Your post made me tear up a lil. This is my gray boy Bart, hoping he's too nervous to run out of an open door. Glad you found yours
    via Prestigious-Oven3465
  • 21
    OP Important_Cod_8970 Thanks so much. I've been ugly crying for days. Now it's happy tears!
    via Important_Cod_8970
  • 22
    CherryExtension5154 Is he fine?
    via CherryExtension5154
  • 23
    OP Important_Cod_8970 She is exhausted but fine!
    via Important_Cod_8970

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wholesome missing cat wholesome cats adorable adorable cats heartwarming kindness neighborhood kindhearted kindness of strangers cute cute cats happy ending family friendly happy Cats lost
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