After nearly six months, Christine and Adam Ellis received the long-awaited call: their missing cat, Moot, had been found and was alive and well.
Christine Ellis shared that she and her husband never gave up hope during Moot’s difficult absence. Before disappearing, Moot had already lived a unique and eventful life.
In March 2023, the Ellises first noticed a little calico cat near their Indianapolis home. They began leaving food for her, and after a month, they named her Moot. To ensure she was being properly cared for, the couple set up a surveillance camera. When they eventually took her to the vet, they discovered that Moot was pregnant with five kittens.
As the Ellises were preparing for their wedding in Czechia, just around the time Moot was due to give birth, they realized they wouldn’t be able to care for newborn kittens. The vet recommended a special foster program for neonatal care, and although they couldn’t take on the responsibility of raising the kittens, they had already formed a bond with Moot.
“When we dropped her off at the foster care program, we wrote a long letter telling them how much we adored her and wanted to adopt her,” Christine recalled.
Once the kittens were old enough, they found their new homes, and in October 2023, Moot officially became part of the Ellis family. She blossomed into a loving, playful cat who loved spending time with her human family.
In May 2024, while the Ellises were on a belated honeymoon in Italy, Moot stayed with family members in Illinois. Shortly after the couple returned to Indianapolis, they were devastated to learn that Moot had escaped through a screen door at her temporary home, likely after spotting a squirrel.
The couple immediately drove to Illinois and, for the first few days, caught glimpses of Moot but were unable to catch her. The Ellises were heartbroken. For the next six months, they put up flyers, posted on social media, and contacted shelters across Illinois. Christine estimated they received monthly reports of possible sightings, but each lead proved unfruitful.
Just before Halloween, Christine’s mother posted laminated flyers throughout her neighborhood, hoping that families might spot Moot while out trick-or-treating.
On November 2, a man called to report a stray calico visiting his porch. Christine asked for a photo, and when she saw it, she immediately recognized the distinctive freckle on the cat’s nose.
The man was able to coax Moot into his garage. His home was located just a mile and a half from where Moot had escaped.
The next morning, Christine and Adam drove three hours to reunite with their beloved cat. Moot is now safely back home, enjoying her favorite blue string, cuddling, and receiving belly rubs.
Moot’s veterinarian gave her a clean bill of health, and she’s adjusting to indoor life once again.
“It still feels like a shock,” Christine said. “She’s just such a little gem, and we’re so happy to have her back in our family.”
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