🎙️ Voice is AI-generated. Inconsistencies may occur.
The sweet reunion between an owner and her cat was captured on a Ring doorbell camera and published on the popular Reddit forum "Aww," where it quickly went viral.
Shared by u/Just_Another_Frodo, the post received more than 30,000 votes as viewers watched the pet owner realize the cat walking around the corner was her own cat, Oliver, who got out of the house early that morning.
"Yesterday our indoor cat escaped for the first time. 12 hours later he came home to my wife," read the title of u/Just_Another_Frodo's post.
The SPCA of Northern Virginia said if a newly-adopted or indoor cat escaped outside, they are likely hiding close by.
"That's because cats are territorial and your cat's territory is inside your home," they said. "Once a cat is thrust into unfamiliar territory, most cats seek an immediate hiding spot because the cat is afraid."
If a cat owner notices their cat has escaped, they are encouraged to look around for potential hiding places and check them several times. They should also put food, water and bedding outside.
"Use strong-smelling canned cat food that your cat can smell from a distance so your cat knows where to go for food," the organization said. "Also, put your cat's litter box and any bedding that has your cat's scent on it outside to attract your cat back to your home."
The video opened as u/Just_Another_Frodo's wife stepped outside. As she turned around, a cat is seen walking around the corner of the house and up the steps.
She did a double take and gasped before scooping Oliver up into her arms.
"Oh my god," she said as she walked back to the door.
She jumped up and down with a smile on her face, showing the people inside that Oliver had returned home.
Redditor u/Just_Another_Frodo's wife hugged Oliver close as another member of the family opened the door to join the sweet reunion before the video ended.
Redditor u/Just_Another_Frodo wrote to Newsweek that the entire family was relieved that Oliver returned home. He said they live in a neighborhood next to a busy road, and there have been previous issues with coyotes in the past.
"Our neighbors have not been as lucky when their cats got out," u/Just_Another_Frodo said.
He said Oliver slipped out at about 7 a.m. when they were leaving for work but showed up at 7 p.m.
"Where he was in between, we have no idea," u/Just_Another_Frodo said.
Viewers took to the comments section to share their thoughts.
"Cat is like, 'What? Something happen? What'd I miss?' OK time for the couch," a Reddit user wrote.
"I love how happy she is," another Redditor wrote. "After years of volunteering at shelters and people giving up animals over the dumbest things, I love seeing humans who genuinely love their pets."
"I can't imagine my cat getting out, horrible feeling that would be," one viewer wrote. "So glad he's home!"
Other sweet moments showing a feline reunion have gone viral.
A clip shared on TikTok showed a cat and her owner reunite after 390 days.
Another video showed two cats getting back together after they were apart for a few weeks, while one video showed a cat recognizing his previous owner years after getting rehomed.
About the writer
Catherine Ferris is a Newsweek reporter based in New York. Her focus is reporting for the U.S. Trends Team. She ... Read more