A mother of three was “absolutely gobsmacked” to learn that her cat had been found after going missing for a month. Samantha Whessell, who was diagnosed with advanced melanoma in 2022, shared that her seven-year-old daughter, Sapphire, struggled with her mother’s diagnosis. To support her, Sapphire was gifted a ragdoll kitten named Albus.
Samantha described the deep bond between her daughter and Albus, stating, “They became inseparable, and soon enough the smiles returned. Albus never ventured beyond our garden.”
However, on May 31, just before Albus’s second birthday, he disappeared from their home in Dorset. “He would never leave our garden since we live in a cul-de-sac,” Samantha noted. Despite searching extensively, reaching out to vets, and using social media, weeks passed without any leads, leaving Sapphire heartbroken.
After four weeks and two days, the family received a call from Cats Protection League, who had located Albus in Christchurch. “We were over the moon,” said Samantha. “She sent me two pictures, and I couldn’t believe it—it was him. He was very underweight and treated for fleas.”
Samantha believes that Albus likely got lost after climbing into someone’s vehicle and losing his way home due to the river separating their areas. Following this experience, she emphasizes the importance of microchipping pets, urging owners to ensure their animals are registered.
