Cat Who Was Lost For 11 Years Finally Reunites With Mom

He started cuddling with her right away šŸ˜šŸ˜­

When Tiger first started showing up in Carol Oā€™Connellā€™s yard about three years ago, he wouldnā€™t let her get anywhere near him. She could tell the senior cat was sweet, but he was scared. 

ā€œHe would show up and then disappear for months at a time,ā€ Lynne Meloccaro, executive director of the Dutchess County SPCA (DCSPCA) in New York, told The Dodo. ā€œShe fed him but couldnā€™t get close to him for a long time.ā€

cat missing 11 years
DCSPCA

Oā€™Connell works at the DCSPCA and has seen her share of nervous animals, so she knew if she was patient and kind, Tiger might come around eventually. In the past three years, O'Connell and her son Dan have worked hard to gain Tiger's trust, until the cat finally felt comfortable enough to approach them and even show them affection. From the way he acted, it seemed as if Tiger may have had a home at one point. On a whim, Oā€™Connell brought a scanner home from work to see if he was chipped ā€” and miraculously, he was. 

Overjoyed, Oā€™Connell told the shelter and they contacted the family listed on Tigerā€™s chip, John and Maggie Welz. When the shelter workers spoke with the Welzes, they couldn't believe what they were hearing: Tiger had been missing for 11 years

cat missing 11 years
DCSPCA

When he was only 3 years old, Tiger had been spooked by something on Halloween night and somehow escaped his house and disappeared. His family searched desperately and put up posters everywhere hoping someone would find him. When they sold their house, they asked the new owners to keep an eye out for him and continued their search from their new home, but eventually, they had to accept that Tiger wasnā€™t coming home. 

ā€œHis family had given up on finding him, and we werenā€™t even sure they would want him again after all these years, but once they got over the shock that he was still alive, they didnā€™t hesitate ā€” they wanted him back right away,ā€ Meloccaro said.

When the Welzes got the call 11 years later that Tiger had finally been found, they couldnā€™t believe it, either. It was especially shocking how healthy Tiger was, considering how long he'd been on his own. He had an injured eye and a few skin issues, and was underweight, but otherwise, Tiger was totally fine. 

cat missing 11 years
DCSPCA

ā€œSome people have since come forward and said they had been feeding him for a while over the years,ā€ Meloccaro said. ā€œHe survived because enough kind people in the community helped him, though apparently no one was able to capture him and bring him to us earlier. When he was finally caught by Carol and Dan, he didnā€™t resist and seemed happy to be touched and petted.  Maybe he had decided heā€™d lived on the streets long enough, and wanted to come inside again.ā€

As soon as she could, Maggie Welz rushed over to the shelter, eager to see her beloved Tiger again. No one had any idea if Tiger would remember his mom or not, as it had been so long since heā€™d last seen her. 

cat missing 11 years
DCSPCA

When Welz walked into the room and saw Tiger, she immediately rushed over and scooped him into her arms ā€¦ 

cat missing 11 years
DCSPCA

ā€¦ and it didnā€™t take long for Tiger to start cuddling her right back. 

cat missing 11 years
DCSPCA

ā€œTiger just looked at her, sniffed her, and then rested his head on her shoulder,ā€ Meloccaro said. ā€œIt was clear that he was not going to have any objection to having her be his human from now on.ā€

cat missing 11 years
DCSPCA

Tiger is now back home where he belongs and completely settled into life with his family again. Itā€™s clear he missed them so much, and has taken to sleeping curled up with his mom every night. His family thought they would never see him again, but thanks to the kindness of their community heā€™s finally home, and theyā€™re so overjoyed to have him back safe and sound.

If youā€™d like to help other animals in need, you can donate to the Dutchess County SPCA