‘Even after all this time, he’s still an end of the day, quiet time love bug. I’ve missed this so much.’: Missing cat is found after 11 years, but bringing him home becomes a battle after residents of the street he was living on refuse to return the catto

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Laurent Shinar • Writer and Editor
Dec 11, 2025 3:00 PM EST

The connection between cats and the ethereal world is one that is hard to contest. They seem to come and go from our lives whenever and however they see fit. Sometimes disappearing for months or years at a time, purrhaps to help out somewhere else where they are needed. And when they have completed their service, they return home to us in a surprising and heartwarming way that truly points to the only possible explanation, which is that cats are connected to some form of otherworldly spirits.

As is the case for the cat in this story, who spent an impressive 11 years away from his furever family, only to return and not only return physically, but also return to his old ways of being. A triumphant story that proves that true love will wait for anything and that cats never furget where they came from.

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  • 01
    In 2012 my family and I relocated to Oklahoma with our, almost 5 year old, cat Shadow. He got out of the house and never came back. I spent 2 years
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    looking for him holding out hope for the call he'd been found, he's chipped, but nothing. At 3 years that I made peace thinking he had died and he was
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  • 03
    mourned and to this day we still talk about how much he is loved and how much he's been missed. Last year we relocated to my hometown and last
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  • Honestly, we get it. There is no getting over, or forgetting a good cat in your life. Their love, attention, and adoration are something so incredibly special and not something that you have with every cat. So when you do have it, it really stays with you.

  • 04
    month we experienced a devastating tornado. My house is fine but we only get paid once a month on the first so having to replace all the
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  • 05
    FRANCH
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    $500+ groceries we had already purchased for the month as well as things we'd need to make the house comfortable for daily life, left our finances
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  • 07
    less than ideal with no room to wiggle. Then I get a call from a veterinarian office and my sweet boy has been found!! He had been
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  • 08
    living on a residential street for the last 6 years and was being fed by the neighborhood. No vets visits, no comfy bed, no shelter from the heat and cold
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    except sporadically when they took pity on him. He had been attacked by something and required minor care and stitches which is when they found his
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    chip with my information. I was so happy and couldn't wait to see him again but because we only get paid once a month, I couldn't get there
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  • Wow, what a surreal way to find your cat once more. To think that after all that time, after giving up hope, you get to be reunited with one of the great loves of your life. It is rather unreal, and even more so when you have people around you to help you make the dream happen.

  • 11
    until August 1st. The woman who took him to the vet was on board but last week started talking about how she didn't know what to do with him while
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  • 12
    recovers so she and I scrambled to find funds to make the trip to get him. One bill was less than expected and my parents also agreed to take money from
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  • 13
    their emergency fund to make up the rest so I can go get him. Now I'm being told that he's been given to another couple in
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  • 14
    the neighborhood who just love him so much and they're going to keep him and nothing but radio silence since then. I have no idea where they live,
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  • 15
    other than the town, so now my children and I have to mourn him all over again. I'm so devastated and I'm losing him all over again. Financially we'll
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  • 16
    Cheezburger Image 10585053184
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    recover in no less than 2 months but emotionally this is a blow that will stay with me forever. We love you Shadow and miss you with all our hearts and I'm
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  • 18
    so sorry we won't be able to see you. Edit: thank you all so much for being a great community. I came here because I needed a place to voice my heart break
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  • 19
    and you all have been more than fantastic. I'm sorry that I haven't responded to everyone but appreciate all of your suggestions
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  • 20
    and well wishes. I have filled out a police report and I'm going to call the veterinarian's office in the morning to try and get the address on file. I also would
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  • 21
    like to apologize for my lack of coherent timeline and rambling, as I wrote this at the peak of my emotions. I will update again just as soon as I have
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  • 22
    anything else to report. Edit #2 Talked to the veterinary office at 9:30 this morning and they are contacting"R" to
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  • 23
    request she bring Shadow back to the office so I can come and get him from them. She is also going to let her know that she cannot rehome my
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    Cheezburger Image 10585052672
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    cat regardless of the situation because he is by Oklahomas law, my cat. They were incredibly apologetic about the whole situation and I was advised to fill out a
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  • 26
    report because per "R" admission, he's never been to the vet in the years he's lived in the neighborhood, and he was brought and they were told he
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  • 27
    was a stray cat and had no home. It's been an hour since then, so hopefully I'll be hearing back really soon! ~~ 2 2
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    Cheezburger Image 10585052928
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    UPDATE After a very long day of waiting, I have just gotten off the phone with the Animal hospital that contacted me and treated Shadow for
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  • 30
    his injuries and "R" has said she will be returning Shadow to them so that I can go and pick him up tomorrow. The police report will still stand and I will not
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  • 31
    have it dismissed until I have Shadow back in my possession. As long as she does what she said she will, I will have my baby boy back tomorrow!
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  • 32
    UPDATE I got a call first thing this morning from the Animal Hospital and Shadow is home! He's responding to his
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  • 33
    name, playing, coming up for pets, purring up a storm and roaming the house. He looks ruff but he's settling in great! We're letting him roam his
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  • 34
    domain and taking it slow on his time. He's never allowed outside ever again. Last update He's eaten, explored
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  • 35
    the house, purred and played. Now it's bedtime, he's had a long day.
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