About a cat’s determination to go home

By Elisa Black-Taylor

Tom a cat who returned home

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There are many stories of cats returning home against the odds. This is another classic. Cats are very territorial. They have their “home” and it is not bricks and mortar. It is a piece of land. A slice of space. They want to be there. These stories are a reminder of that.

Tom is a 7-year-old red tabby and white cat, owned by Jason and Allison Miller and their daughter Lily. On June 11, the family was forced to flee the Black Forest wildfires in their Colorado Springs home and stay with Allison’s parents until the situation was under control.

The family only had enough time to gather Tom, their two dogs and a turtle before leaving. There was a problem at Allison’s parents home, coming in the form of a resident cat, who hissed at Tom. So Tom was moved into the basement until friends offered to allow Tom to take up residence in their barn until the Miller’s could return home.

Tom escaped and disappeared, and the family feared the worst. There were reports of coyotes in the area, and no trees to offer protection for the cat. Allison had a feeling Tom was still out there, alive and trying to get home. Sue Rademacher, a friend of the family, put up fliers, and on Sunday they were contacted by a neighbor. Tom was under her shed and had traveled about six miles through the fire damaged terrain to get to his home on Snowdrift Lane. The Millers tried for two days to get Tom to show himself, but he didn’t respond to their calls or to the treats they were offering him.

Just before the family was about to leave on Monday, they finally found each other. First Tom meowed, then stuck his little head out from under the shed. Tom had lost a lot of weight during the month he was gone, but he’s expected to make a full recovery. After plopping down in front of his family, Tom was taken to their new temporary home, where he’s catching up on his eating and sleeping.

In an interview with The Gazette, Jason said Tom’s desire and determination to return home was inspirational.

“Just the fact that he made it for seven years, and then made it through the fire, and then struggled for a month traveling through the trees. It gives us a reason to sit back and smile. This is what matters. The connections. His journey brought us to tears and smiles. He did all he could to get back.”

No one can say cats aren’t resourceful, intelligent and very attached to the families who love them. Tom and another kitten had been adopted by the family from the Rockin’ B Feed and Supply. The other kitten had died, but Tom was a survivor. Jason admits he wasn’t into cats, but the sweet tabby eventually grew on him. Jason explains how he fell in love with Tom.

“He’s a big old sweet tom cat. He always nags me until I rub his belly. One time he lined up three decapitated mice at the same time as a gift at the front door.”

There have been several stories of survival this year (one example), where a cat or dog has defeated all odds to reunite with the family they love. Most likely, Tom used his mousing skills to survive. Readers, this should make for an interesting discussion. Who do you think is more intelligent at survival: cats or dogs?

Elisa

Source: gazette.com/cat-makes-28-day-journey-to-burned-black-forest-home-that-once-was-home/article/1505113

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6 thoughts on “About a cat’s determination to go home”

  1. My mother took a cat 6 miles from home to a shelter when I was around 5 years old. Two weeks later it walked back into our yard. I’ve heard male cats have a vast hunting ground compared to female cats. Cats are sneaky. Dogs are more likely to go up to someone to make friends and get a free trip to the shelter.

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  2. I just find it utterly amazing that a cat can travel miles and miles to get home. How do they know where to go? Is it smell? An extra sense?

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    • People (the “experts”) believe it is due to a cat’s ability to sense the earth’s magnetic field. It is the earth’s magnetic field that allows a compass to how where north, south, east and west is. A cat knows where north and south is etc. add to that observational intelligence and he finds his way home.

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  3. Dogs need other dogs I would guess – I think cats are more capable and able to survive. Perhaps a dog in a pack of dogs would be ok though.

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  4. Wonderful story.
    There are probably an equal number of cat and dog stories.
    In my opinion, cats are more resourceful. They are better hunters, can find shelter nearly anywhere, and are stubborn and dtermined as hell in their efforts to reach goals.

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