Missing Tabby Cat Survives 8 Weeks in Storm Drain, Reunites with Overjoyed Family

If you’ve ever experienced the heart-wrenching ordeal of a lost pet, you know the emotional rollercoaster it can be. The sleepless nights, the worry about their safety and well-being, and the fading hope with each passing day is a journey no pet parent should have to endure.

After almost two months, you start to accept the painful reality that they may never come home. But sometimes, luck intervenes. In this Tabby Cat’s case, a life-saving tip arrived just in the nick of time.

See how neighborhood children helped reunite a missing feline with his family in a video from September 23:

This three-year-old Tabby Cat, named Drifter, certainly gave his family quite a scare trying to live up to his name! ABC News (@abcnews) reports that he became trapped in a storm drain after sneaking outside his Minnesota home. Fortunately, the observant ears of the neighborhood children heard his meows and alerted the family, leading to this lost cat’s rescue. When his father pulled him from the drain, he noticed how skinny Drifter felt. But perhaps going from 15 to only 6 1/2 pounds in eight weeks helped him to be freed more easily. Thankfully, he seemed to be himself otherwise, and after a trip to the vet confirmed his health, he’ll be getting plenty of food to put some weight back on. Hopefully, he won’t be sneaking out of the house again, especially now that he gets to have extra meals.

Related: Cat Parents Document All the Mischief Their Tabby Cat Gets Into and It's a Hoot

How Long Can Cats Survive Without Food?

Healthy adult cats should not go without food for more than 24 hours. However, if they are trapped, they can survive for up to two weeks as long as they have access to water. In Drifter’s case, he might have caught mice while stuck, and being outside provided him with life-sustaining water. It’s also possible he didn’t spend his entire eight weeks on the run in this location, but it’s a secret only he can tell.

People were thrilled to hear about this cat’s rescue. One person responded, “OMG, how did he survive for that long? That poor baby! What a miracle!” Cats are very resilient creatures. Viewer @fefa_mb remarked, “Thank goodness they have several lives!” He undoubtedly used one or two of his nine here. Viewer @tomdragii responded, “Congratulations on bringing him home! Never give up on your buddy.” There’s always hope and keeping the faith can pay off.

While nobody wants to experience such an ordeal, it’s important to remember that there are happy endings. All it takes is a few kind people and a little luck to turn the impossible into reality.