Couple finds a cat lying lethargic on the ground during a heatwave, she acts suspiciously friendly, a few days later, they find out she's their neighbor's 10-year-old cat who escaped, and the reunion is adorable

Mariel Ruvinsky • Writer and Editor

Jul 13, 2026 10:15 AM EDT

In heatwaves like the ones we're having now, we are not the only ones who suffer.

It has been an extra hot summer so far. Maybe it's bad luck, maybe the gates of the underworld have finally opened to punish us for our weird Twitter feed, maybe we're just noticing it more because more people are complaining. Either way, it's hot. And our cats are feeling it too. I see it even at home. My cat, who's one of those cats who love to sunbathe so much that she'll scream at me every morning, exactly five minutes after breakfast, to open the balcony for her so she can chill in her favorite sunspot - even she barely manages to spend five minutes outside before coming back in and chilling in the cool sink. Sleeping under blankets - another one of her favorite activities - is something she's not even considering if the AC isn't on. It has been too much heat for her very fluffy body.

But it's not just house cats who are feeling the heat. Stray cats are feeling it even more. To an extent, they know what they are doing. They know all the shady spots around. Our building cats all gather near the entrance to the building, waiting for me or one of the other neighbors to open the door for them so they can chill inside… But what if you are a house cat who just so happened to escape during a heatwave? That's the question @benmyfriend1 on X answered this week. It's bad enough for a house cat to escape into a completely unknown territory, where they don't get spoiled with food, shelter and love every second of the day. When the heat hits, and there's no available water around… the only thing left to do, apparently, is give up and hope that someone kind will save you.

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It would have taken us exactly 30 seconds to realize she was someone's cat. She's too fluffy, too clean, too calm and pampered. Oh, she's so lucky that she was found in time, before she was dehydrated and seriously hurt.
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Best news we've heard all week. This is what we are still on Twitter for. The good and wholesome news that still gives us hope for humanity. It's worth everything else.
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