Smudge returns from the dead!

[Spuds Mum]

Before Halloween last year, my gorgeous black and white boy cat, Smudge, disappeared. When after a week or so he didn't reappear (Guy Fawkes night would normally have brought him thundering back into the house) we accepted the painful fact that he had passed away.

As we returned from the Todmorden hamster show today, and pulled the car up in front of the house, we were surprised to see Rosie, my daughter, bouncing up and down at the front door as we arrived.

Guess who had turned up 10 minutes earlier? Yup Our Smudge, looking fit and healthy and none the worse for 8 months away. I have no idea where he has been as we saw not even a glimpse of any cat that could have been him in the last 8 months, but we are absolutely thrilled to have him home safe and sound.

We will be keeping him inside for a good while now, as I can't bear the thought that, having come in for a cuddle and some food, he might just take off again! He looks in great condition apart from the fact that he seems to have ear mites, so a trip to the vet for drops will be called for!

[souffle]

I cannot believe he is back Spud's mum. That is just so amazing You must be over the moon to have him home. He must have been looked after by someone. Oh I so so so pleased for you The wanderer returns. Welcome home Smudge

[Spuds Mum]

He's miaowing at the door as we speak! what an ungrateful old man!
I have given him a litter tray, and will keep him inside, but he has always loved going out, but no way is he just going to go to wherever he has been and disappear for another 8 months.

He is microchipped and so, I know somone must have been feeding and caring for him, and I am so upset that whoever it was has not given a thought for the upset that our family has been through since he disappeared when with one trip to a vet the y could have found out who we are. Does that sound very mean? I know I am ecstatic to have him back, but am cross that I have missed out on 8 months when he has obviously been somewhere else!

I'm also keeping him away from the other cats, not so much for quarantine, as much as to give him time to settle back in

I am so so happy to have him home though, and feel that I have won much more today that a first place!

[Mollz]

I think you have every right to be cross! It would have been so easy to find out that he already had a family, whoever he has been living with obviously has no consideration for other people's feelings.

I just wish there was a way that you could find out who they are and give them a piece of your mind!

[Spuds Mum]

Arti has suggested attaching a camera and using Smudge cam to find out where he has been!

[happysaz133]

That's such an amazing story, I'm so happy Smudge has come home to you!

I might be one of those people, Lucky appeared in our garage in 2004, beaten and abused, but still so friendly, and even though we did report we'd found him to the Cats Protection, and had him scanned for a chip, we never found his owners. I do sometimes wonder if his owners are out there somewhere wondering whats happened to him. He's definately well loved and well rooted here though

[Spuds Mum]

Oh I know that whoever has been looking after him has done a good job happysaz, and I thank them for that, but as I said, we could have been found - his microchip was checked when we had his booster injections done, so I know it is still there and working.
Of course I dont know whether he was straying for a while before he was taken in, but he certainly wasn't beaten and abused when he left us in October!

Anyway, its a happy ending for us, but now I will worry that they will be worried when he doesn't turn up!

[souffle]

I have heard of people putting collars on cats who have maybe two homes and sending messages in a little capsule attached to the collar to let the other family know he has a home. I guess it could have been some old person who did not know about microchips and has enjoyed having the lad as company. They could still have reported him to the RSPCA or Cat protection league who would have come out and scanned him. I hope he sticks around now and does not decide to stroll back to his other home. He must have wanted to come back to you. I would keep him in for a couple of weeks and get him really bonded again.

[suga]

LOL - Smudge cam
Glad that Smudge has found his way home what an adventure.

[ilovemyhammies]

wow thats great news teresa, your so lucky he returned.
our jazz went missing, i think stolen 8 years ago and i still miss him and wonder where he went.