A Southland woman is celebrating after an emotional four-year search for her missing cat finally ended with a familiar high-five from her beloved “best friend.”
Torria Cummings, from Winton, never lost hope of finding Ceaser, who disappeared when she moved into a new home.
Now, after years of searching, heartbreak, and false leads, the two have finally been reunited.
“I still can’t believe he’s here. It sounds so cliché, but I just had this feeling he was still alive,” she said.
The breakthrough came from a social media post shared by Farming Mums NZ and Furever Homes.
A woman had rescued a “stray cat” from another family in the Wreys Bush area and needed help identifying its sex.
“I messaged her, saying my cat was missing. It was a long shot since so much time had passed,” Cummings said.
After sharing photos of Ceaser, the woman asked if there was anything unique about him. That’s when Cummings mentioned his special trick—high-fiving.
She explained that if someone clicked their fingers, Ceaser would jump up and give a high-five. The woman responded that the cat did exactly that.
Cummings was in disbelief.
“I tried to keep my expectations low because I had gone to so many places before, only to be disappointed.
“But as soon as I saw him and he high-fived me, the woman said, ‘Oh my God, it’s not normal for a cat to do that. This is your boy.’”
Overjoyed, Cummings brought Ceaser home, where he quickly adapted to family life again.
“My kids get a little jealous because I’m always cuddling him, but he’s part of the family again.”
Cummings first adopted Ceaser when she was around 19. Having grown up with many cats, she felt getting one with her partner was a milestone.
“I’m a cat person—not someone who has heaps of cats, but one is enough. Ceaser was my first cat.
“He became my best friend, and he still is now that he’s back.”
Years later, Cummings, now a farm manager, moved to Wreys Bush.
One day, after returning home for lunch, she realized Ceaser was gone.
“My husband and I searched everywhere. We called his name, checked neighbors’ properties, and posted on social media—but we had no luck.
“We kept looking for months, even years, because I still had hope.”
Even after moving to another farm, Cummings never stopped searching.
She had many false alarms, but whenever she was in Wreys Bush, she called Ceaser’s name, hoping for a miracle.
Over the years, she and her husband welcomed two children and two other cats, but Ceaser was always on her mind.
“I kept seeing posts and thinking, ‘It could be him. I’ll just go check.'”
Furever Homes volunteer Loanna Messman said the story of Ceaser and Cummings was a testament to owners who never give up.
“For anyone with a missing pet—don’t lose hope. Cats are incredibly resilient.
“We’re overjoyed for them.”
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