After more than three months, a missing cat is finally back home with her family.

Luna, a six-year-old black and white cat, went missing last fall.

An outdoor cat, she would typically wake up owner Ashley Smith around 6 a.m. to be let out. By the time Smith鈥檚 kids were leaving for school, she鈥檇 be back.

But this morning, on Oct. 8, was different.

鈥淚t was like one day she was there, the next day she was gone,鈥� said Smith.

Luna has gone missing before, but she鈥檚 always come back. The Smiths would go for walks on the trails in behind their home near Simms Creek in Willow Point and see her exploring the creek and climbing trees.

鈥淏ut this time it was different,鈥� said Smith.

Her six-year-old daughter, Mackenzie, has a strong connection with Luna. Bedtime routines would see Mackenzie and Luna cuddle.

鈥淭hat was her cuddle-buddy. That was her security,鈥� said Smith. 鈥淪he has ADHD and whenever she鈥檇 get into a mood, or something, she would go find Luna and hug her and hold her and that would settle her down. That was her companion.鈥�

Over the months, even as cougar and bear sightings increased around Campbell River, Mackenzie never lost hope.

Even into December, Mackenzie would leave food and water outside for Luna.

鈥淪he just never gave up hope,鈥� said Smith. 鈥淪he鈥檇 sit there and cry.鈥�

Smith was preparing her kids for the worst.

鈥淲e didn鈥檛 hear anything for awhile and then we started having the cougar and bear sightings,鈥� said Smith. 鈥淪o then I just assumed that she had probably got eaten.鈥�

Just before Christmas the family welcomed another furry member to the home.

Mr. Fluffy Pants, a six-month-old cat, wasn鈥檛 fitting into his previous family鈥檚 life very well, and with no Luna sightings, he joined the Smiths.

鈥淢r. Fluffy Pants was just to try to help her (Mackenzie) have somebody to cope with,鈥� said Smith. 鈥淪he finds the purring very calming.鈥�

When Luna went missing in the fall, Smith had posted about her on the Lost and Found Animals of Campbell River Facebook page, which has more than 6,500 members.

When a lost black and white cat was brought into the BC SPCA in Campbell River, staff put a call out on Facebook with the animal鈥檚 photo hoping it would get recognized.

Jamie Derksen, an administrator for the missing pets page, thought the cat looked familiar and searched through files of missing pet posts. She contacted Smith.

But just based off the photos, Smith wasn鈥檛 totally sure it was Luna. There鈥檚 another cat in the neighbourhood that looks similar to Luna and Smith thought maybe it was that animal.

鈥淚 was all day at work going 鈥業 want to go get the cat. I want to see if it鈥檚 her,鈥欌�� said Smith.

She waited until the SPCA opened at noon and went down to check if Luna was indeed their mystery cat.

鈥淭hey opened the door where they keep the cats and she let out this ugly meow. I鈥檓 like, 鈥楾hat鈥檚 my cat. It鈥檚 her morning I want food meow; give me attention meow.鈥� It鈥檚 the ugliest thing I hear. She has a really nice, cute meow and then there鈥檚 that one,鈥� said Smith. 鈥淚鈥檓 like that鈥檚 my cat.鈥�

Luna went over to Smith and let her pet her.

Smith had left her kids in the dark about Luna鈥檚 possible return. She wanted to make sure it was her.

With Luna safely tucked away in her SPCA box, Smith collected her kids from school and brought them to the car.

鈥淎ll they see is this box and they鈥檙e like 鈥榃hat鈥檚 in there? Is it a cat? Is that my cat? Are there two cats in there?鈥欌�� said Smith with a laugh.

Smith filmed the reunion. In the video, Mackenzie and Eathen, her son, get in the backseat. They close all the doors and then cradle the box in their laps. When they unfold the cardboard flaps, they just stare in stunned silence.

You can hear Eathen say, 鈥淚 thought she was dead.鈥� After three months, they had been prepared for the possibility.

鈥淭hey looked like they didn鈥檛 recognize her because it had been so long,鈥� said Smith. It鈥檚 true, three months can seem like a lifetime to kids. 鈥淭hey had this stunned look: What is this? Is it her? Is it really her?

鈥淚t was just a really cute moment.鈥�

When they got home, Mackenzie and Luna were nearly inseparable for awhile.

In the days since she鈥檚 been home, Smith said Luna is still acting a little differently.

鈥淪he鈥檚 not quite the same as she was,鈥� said Smith. 鈥淪he is a little bit more timid, but she every day is getting a little bit better.鈥�

Smith doesn鈥檛 know much about where Luna was while she was missing, but heard that a family near the former Eagle鈥檚 Nest Lodge along the South Island Highway had been putting out food and water for her and brought her in to the SPCA when they were able to.

Smith is grateful to the people that helped take care of Luna.

She says that Luna won鈥檛 be allowed outside for awhile at least.

鈥淚鈥檓 not going through this again,鈥� said Smith. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the worst feeling in the world.鈥�

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marissa.tiel@campbellrivermirror.com
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