Missing cat traveled 280 miles to reunite with family after 13 months

By Leo Black via SWNS

This cat traveled more than 280 miles to her old home before being reunited with her relocated owners 13 months later.

Laëtitia De Amicis, 41, relocated with her family from Ambly-sur-Meuse, in the Orne region of France, to Ginai in Normandy, for work reasons.

They took great care to keep their three cats Felys, Crapaud, and Cocci, in the new house, as they were worried they'd get lost in different surroundings.

But Cocci went missing in August 2021, only to be found by a stranger 13 months later, more than 280 miles away, near their previous family home.

The worried family, including Laëtitia's two children, had searched for Cocci for three months, but to no avail.

To stop children, Tom, 17, and Margot, 13, from worrying, Laëtitia told them she thought Cocci had probably gone home to look for them in Ambly - not believing for a second it could be true.

Incredibly, on October 2, Laëtitia saw a post shared on Facebook saying that a stray cat had been found in Souilly, a town located just 10 kilometers away from Ambly-sur-Meuse.

Laëtitia, a stay-at-home mom, said: "I recognized her straight away, although she looked completely different."

A local couple found Cocci underneath a car and posted a picture of the adventurous feline on a missing pets website.

The cat was sent to the local veterinarian in Souilly, who confirmed she was 10 years old and had been spayed, just like Cocci.

When Cicci was found, she weighed less than one kilogram. She had fleas, worms and an infection on her face.

"She looked completely different," Laëtitia added.

Photos were exchanged and Laëtitia sent her dad, Bernard De Amicis, to identify her.

"I sent my dad who knows my cats. I asked him to go and see."

Bernard, who was reluctant to go, said he couldn’t believe it was possible that the cat was actually Cocci and had traveled across the country.

Laëtitia added: "When he called me that day I understood straight away. I saw my dad cuddling my cat on the video call.

"I knew it was her. I recognized her straight away. He tried to call her different names and she only responded to Cocci.

"When my dad called me, I was with my daughter. She looked at her, recognized her and burst into tears. I was also crying.

"My son was very skeptical until we went to pick her up. But as soon as we got there, she recognized us straight away. It's unbelievable. I still can't believe it."

Cocci stayed with the vet for an additional three weeks before the family was allowed to take her home.

"Since we brought her home, all is going well. She adapted again really well. She's very cuddly."