Community / Woman reunited with lost cat after 13 years
WHEN SUSAN Manson’s cat Mona ran away from home in Lerwick 13 years ago, she gave up hope of ever seeing her again.
But the pair appear to have been reunited again – all thanks to a post in a local missing pets Facebook group.
Photos of what appeared to be a stray cat, which was said to have looked unwell, hiding under bins in Lerwick was spotted by Susan as she scrolled on social media last Monday (21 October).
After looking at the markings on the face, and comparing them to old photographs of her long-lost cat, she began to ponder if it was indeed Mona.
Speaking to Shetland News, Susan, 34, said she was in “denial” at first, having assumed that her cat had probably died a number of years ago, but her mind began to come around to the idea when other people noticed the striking similarities between the photos.
Mona – who had not been microchipped – ran away from home in 2011 when Susan lived at Ladies Drive, not far at all from where the cat had been photographed under the bins at Burnside.
A number of months after Mona disappeared Susan moved to England before returning to Shetland a few years ago.
After seeing the Facebook post, on which no-one had claimed the cat, Susan went out for a look, including checking Mona’s old “hang out” areas as well as the bin shed.
She initially tried a trap given to her by a family member but there was no luck – with the equipment more suited to animals like ferrets.
However, Susan did spot the cat near the bins – eyes shining in the light.
She then got in touch with the Scottish SPCA, and was told she could get a loan of one the animal welfare charity’s humane traps.
Susan later returned to find the trap with the cat in it – stirring up emotions of relief, excitement and disbelief.
She is adamant the cat is indeed Mona – with folk commenting on the missing pets Facebook post in agreement.
Susan initially kept the cat in her shed in case she had any fleas, given that she has other felines in her house, before taking her to the vets the next day.
Vets said they suspected the cat might have some arthritis in her back legs but on the whole was in okay health considering her age, which is thought to be 16.
Susan was told the cat did not have any fleas and was safe to take into her home – leading to the creation of a temporary enclosure under her stairs for her to stay in while she gets used to her surroundings.
“Once everyone is happy we’ll let her have free rein of the house,” she said.
On Sunday the purring cat was enticed out of her cage with treats as she began to get more settled.
“I’m just absolutely over the moon,” Susan said, adding that there had been no aggression, scratching or biting.
The few moments of hissing that have happened so far have usually come when food is involved, with Susan suggesting the cat may be trying to guard it.
She added the cat has been eating quickly and “licking her bowl clean”, whereas her other cats take more time over their meals.
After assuming her cat had died, Susan said she was “buzzing” to have her back in her life.
“It’s a bit surreal to be fair,” he said. “When the picture first came up I didn’t say anything at first, because I thought ‘surely not’.
“I’m hoping for a really good outcome, and it’s looking like it could be, but I’m still in disbelief that this has even happened.
“You hear of cats returning after two or three years but 13 years is quite a long time.”
What the cat has been up to in those 13 years is unclear, but Susan said she thought “somebody must have been feeding her, because she was still quite friendly” – and not ferocious like she had worried she would be.
One theory she has floated is whether the construction work ongoing at Staney Hill has encouraged the cat to come in closer to people, making its way to the bin shed.
Susan added she felt compelled to act after seeing the Facebook post, especially with lower temperatures on the horizon.
“I thought ‘I have to do something’, because you can’t just leave her out, especially with winter coming,” Susan said.
“I didn’t think she’d manage out in the cold much longer.”
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