Owner Searches for Missing Cat—Who They Bring Home Instead Goes Viral

A social-media user’s search for their missing cat has taken a bizarre and heartwarming turn.

In a post to Reddit, the user shared that they were out looking for their feline when another, stray cat followed them home, sparking a viral story about what some are calling a cat “distribution system” in overdrive. Since the post was published, it has gone viral with over 14,000 upvotes.

The owner of the missing pet shared the initial encounter, writing: “I am looking for my missing cat and a black cat has followed me to my front door. This is not my cat. Not sure what to do. It keeps rubbing against my legs and meowing very loudly every time I try to walk away.”

The Cat That Refused to Leave

The poster, a self-described “massive cat lover” in the comments, provided a series of updates on the situation. The black feline remained outside their house, waiting.

“I opened my window upstairs to see if the cat’s still there and it looked up at me and started meowing constantly and very fast,” the poster wrote. “I’m scared and honored.”

The animal’s determination to stay put inspired the family to prepare for a possible cat rescue.

After attempts to find its owner, the new feline friend seemed to have chosen its new human, ignoring the user’s parents and “follow[ing] me to my car. Think she has latched herself onto me,” the poster wrote.

“He heard you had a vacancy,” one commenter said. “In all seriousness, I hope you find your cat.”

Theories of the Internet

The story took an even-stranger turn when the poster provided an update that left internet users with more questions than answers.

The black cat had seemingly left, but the owner kept searching for their original pet. The next day, two new cats appeared, making a total of three new felines who had approached the owner in a single day.

“I’ve been scented and rubbed against by four different cats,” the poster wrote in a comment. “The black one yesterday and three today.”

The bizarre series of events led to a wave of humorous and emotional theories from commenters. Some saw a deeper meaning behind the felines’ actions.

“I hope you find your own cat and that your cat is okay,” one person wrote. “Your new little friend can sense what you’re feeling and wants to comfort you. I probably don’t need to remind you of how sensitive cats and dogs are.”

Others were more mystified by the phenomenon.

“I can’t believe there are now three or four cats somehow and yet no Hector still,” one user commented. “I saw the original post, but this is getting wild … almost like you have been chosen as a cat god or that they require you to build them a shelter.”

Another user wrote, “You have the whole distribution system in overdrive,” while a third said: “You are a cat whisperer, or your cat is sending some message through their cat friends.”

While the user has still not found their beloved pet, it remains to be seen whether the coalition of new feline friends has something to tell them.

Newsweek reached out to u/WarmGuarantee2991 for comment via Reddit.