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After 2 years, cat and owner reunite in Prince Albert

May 2, 2013 | 12:37 PM

It’s been two years since Arielle Denys’ cat Oscar ran off after being let out of the house, and now she has been reunited with her friend.

She may never have found Oscar if it wasn’t for help from the Prince Albert SPCA.

Denys said the cat disappeared after her mother let the cat out on a nice night.

“One night my mom let him outside and I didn’t want her to,” said Denys, reminiscing about the day Oscar ran off. “She said he’s a cat he’ll come back, and he never did.”

Denys instantly began an aggressive search for her beloved friend, handing out posters and offering a reward.

She also started visiting the SPCA almost on a daily basis for the first little while, although as time passed she said her visits became less frequent.

“(I came in) just basically when they called,” said Denys.

Debbie Lehner of the SPCA had said someone had called in with complaints about an orange cat which was cornered near a building and wouldn’t let anyone near it.

After managing to wrestle the scared animal into a carrying cage, Leanne Roberts at the SPCA said she knew from the distinctive marks on the animal that this was the one that belonged to Denys.

They contacted Denys immediately and as soon as she entered the room with the hissing and frightened animal, it instantly became calm and cuddled in her arms.

Two years had taken their toll on the cat, which was still wary and nervous even when Denys brought it home.

“(It was) pretty bad,” said Denys. “But about five o’clock the next morning he decided he was going to come sleep with me on my bed, and started following me around my house.”

Denys said she is not sure how Oscar could have survived that long on his own.

“You know I have not a clue,” said Denys. “But I know for a fact he never would have had a problem defending himself or eating because he always used to get into the cat food.”

Oscar showed little signs of physical wounds with merely a sore on his tail and some scraps.

He is now slowly being re-conditioned to become a lazy house cat once more with lots of patience and love.

So the cat may not have come back the very next day, but he did eventually come home.

jbowler@panow.com

On Twitter: @journalistjim