Jimmy the cat has always been mischievous, but he’s never done anything like this before. One of Jimmy’s favorite things to do was go outside and wander around nearby his house – until one day when he didn’t come back.
Jimmy loved being outdoors as much as any other spoiled feline would; in fact, that is where most of the mischief-making happened. He liked hanging out on a sunny patch by their driveway or exploring new territory with family members and pets alike. Some days it might be sneaking into an open window while someone at home isn’t looking…or just enjoying some time off from work lounging inside your parked car!
“He used to go in and out every day but always came back, except that one night,” Sue Zelitsky, Jimmy’s mom said.
On September 13, 2014 when Jimmy was thirteen years old, Zelitsky’s husband let him play outside for a while. When it was time to come back inside they called and searched everywhere but Jimmy never came home.
Jimmy’s family were absolutely devastated by this loss; eventually losing hope in finding their son again. Every now and then Selena would take the family dog out with her just incase maybe he had wandered off somewhere nearby? They didn’t want to lose all faith that one day they might find their boy again!
Zelitsky was browsing Facebook one afternoon when she came across an post from the West Milford Animal Shelter. In their latest post, they described a stray cat who had been pulled off of the streets and looked remarkably like her beloved Jimmy — Zelitsky immediately commented on this discovery to figure out if it could be him after all these years apart! After messaging back in forth with them for some time, Zelitke found that there were many similarities between what he remembered about his lost pet and theirs; right down to the coloration of his fur coat. She soon learned that yes indeedy-do: It was actually her long-lost friend Jimmy come home at last!
“He was found approximately 10 miles from our home after the big March blizzard and brought in to the West Milford Animal Shelter,” Zelitsky said. “After some sharing of pictures and other physical attributes I went to see him.”
Zelitsky nervously gathered up a few things she thought Jimmy might recognize, and then headed to the shelter with her neighbor. They were back in minutes — Zelitsky knew it was him as soon as they walked into the room!
“As soon as we opened the cage I asked him, ‘Jim, is that you bud?’ And he walked over and head-butted me and I just started crying,” Zelitsky said.
Zelitsky finally brought her husband in to meet Jimmy, and the family dog recognized him right away. It was clear that he had found his way back home for sure this time!
Jimmy is 15 years old now and he’s so happy to be back home with his family. The dog recognized him right away, coming up from behind Jimmy for a hug after not seeing each other for months, but the new kittens were just as excited too! They welcomed Jimmy into their lives like they hadn’t seen him in ages while everyone else was shocked that he had been found at all. But thankfully it didn’t take long before grateful tears turned into smiles when they realized what an amazing time this would mean going forward, having their son finally come home again where he belongs.
“We are over the moon,” Zelitsky said. “It’s the greatest story ever and almost too good to be true … but it is!”
