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By Liz O'Connell
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A woman became emotional after answering a phone call and hearing the unexpected news: Her missing cat had been found after 10 years.
The cat’s owner, Jess, who posts on TikTok as @ned_comes_home, told Newsweek via TikTok that she first picked up her cat, Ned, as a kitten in July 2014 with his brother, Ted. Ned became the more adventurous of the two. She said he liked going outside, while Ted preferred the life of a stay-at-home cat.
When the family moved nearby, Ned kept seeking out his old stomping grounds. Jess could go to collect him each time, until the people who moved into the house started looking out for Ned. He had two homes for a bit, and the time in between his appearances stretched from a few days to weeks, until eventually, both Jess and his second family stopped seeing him.
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The search for Ned was on, and several years passed without any trace—until the end of January. Jess received a call from a local cat rescue sanctuary asking if she owned a cat named Ned. After 10 years, she finally had an answer about Ned's whereabouts.
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Ned, now 12 years old, was brought in by a woman who had been looking after Ned for the past three years, Jess said. She was going into a home and wanted Ned to be taken care of, prompting her to call the local animal rescue. The other seven years remain a mystery.
"They scanned his microchip, and my details came up," she said. "...the crazy thing is he wasn't far from where my previous house was and the one I moved out of originally. I’m just glad I didn’t change my number on the microchip!"
Settling Back Home—Slowly
The next day, Jess went to pick up her long-lost fur baby, but after 10 years apart, Ned showed caution.
"He was nervous when I collected him, but is beginning to settle and feel comfortable," Jess said. "I have another cat, Bluey, so Ned is in the spare room adjusting to life back in a house before meeting Bluey!"
Rescue animals often need time to unwind and feel comfortable in their new environment. The general adjustment period is known as the 3, 3, 3 rule, or the Rule of Three. The first three days are an initial acclimatization period, during which animals might hide or feel overwhelmed. By three weeks, pets will begin to settle in, explore and show confidence. Then, by the third month, these animals will feel comfortable, although the timeline might be different for every pet.
"A week later, he is definitely settling and is so friendly like I remember!" Jess said. "He enjoys a quieter life and a little less extravagant adventures."
Why Microchips Matter
Microchips are a permanent form of identification that animal shelters and rescues routinely scan, which dramatically increases the chances of a safe reunion.
Newsweek previously reported that lost dogs with microchips are returned to their owners at a rate of about 52 percent, compared with about 22 percent for non-microchipped dogs. About 38 percent of microchipped cats are reunited with their families, while non-microchipped felines are returned at less than 2 percent.
Jess urges pet parents to go the microchip route after her experience. She said: "Advice to anyone is to update their details with microchip companies—it’s not one you think about when you move house."
TikTok Reacts
Jess has been sharing Ned's story and his adjustment back home on her TikTok, with viewers invested in the reunion, and her February 1 video on his day three progress had reached over 44,000 views and 4,000 likes.
"I can’t imagine how those 10 years were for either of you, but it’s so good to see you have your baby back," commented a viewer.
Another added: "Aww, how heartwarming to be reunited. He looks like he's been through the mill, poor sweet bub."
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
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