Padmé, originally rescued by the O’Neill family two years ago, slipped out of her harness near their home.
Betsy O’Neill, who has spent a decade rescuing stray cats, first saved Padmé in 2022 alongside her sister, Aayla, and a litter of kittens.
Second rescue!
Padmé quickly bonded with Betsy’s son, Reilly, becoming a cherished member of the family.
Because Padmé was so active, there were times her family didn't know what to do with her. So they decided to start walking her on a lead. It sounded like a good idea at first, until one day, Padmé slipped out of her harness while on a walk!
When Padmé went missing, the O’Neills drew on their rescue experience to implement an intensive search effort.
They distributed fliers, monitored trail cameras, and set up feeding stations. Despite occasional sightings, Padmé evaded capture for weeks.
40 days missing
On the 40th day, Reilly spotted Padmé on a garage camera. Watching her slowly follow a trail of treats into a humane trap, he finally secured her. Overcome with emotion, Reilly called his mother, and the family celebrated the reunion.
Padmé was checked by a vet and is now back home. Though slightly more cautious after her ordeal, the adventurous calico has resumed her playful antics and remains close to her rescuing family, especially Reilly.
