Wesley the cat suddenly vanished in 2022. At the time, his family searched tirelessly for him everywhere.
Sadly, they eventually lost hope, believing Wesley was gone for good.
The photo that changed everything
That was until one day in March 2026, when their 13-year-old daughter spotted a post on Facebook. It had been shared by a dog walker in a local group. The photo showed a ginger cat in a rather sorry state, wandering near the Knockomie Hotel in Forres.
Chloe stared at the photo, comparing it with old pictures of her cat. Then, she noticed the similar markings on his muzzle. Without a second thought, she sent the post to her mum, Lindsay. They were both certain: it had to be Wesley.
A game of hide-and-seek
They headed to the hotel, which was less than a mile from their home. Staff at the hotel confirmed they had been looking after the cat and feeding him regularly. However, when the girl and her mum arrived, Wesley was nowhere to be seen. They had to set up motion-activated cameras to be able to help him.
That evening, at around 10 p.m., the camera sent an alert to the family: Wesley was near the hotel. They rushed over as quickly as they could. At first, Wesley seemed a little unsettled, but he recognised the sound of his owner Lindsay's voice.
They were able to get close to him and scoop him up into their arms to bring him to safety. When they got Wesley home, the family was in complete shock. He acted as if nothing had happened, strolling around the house just like he used to. The 15-year-old cat was checked over by a vet and treated for fleas and worms. He is now doing well and enjoying the comfort of his home once more!
