After not seeing her cat for seven years, a woman spotted him in the yard, but her attempt to reconnect ended in heartbreak.
Nicole Waite told Newsweek that her black cat, Sooty, had once been an affectionate companion and her older children’s first pet. Sooty struggled after her other feline was fatally struck by a car, as well as a move to a new home. He also grew jealous when Waite had a baby. This led him to start venturing to a neighbor’s house, where he played with their cat, was fed and kept inside.
“I started to see him less and less, at a distance, and eventually didn’t see him at all,” she said. “Never saw him in anyone’s garden or crossing the road at night, and we all assumed he had died.”
Seven years went by without a sighting, until one morning she saw him “just sitting there” in the yard. She filmed Sooty and shared the clip on her TikTok account @willowtreewtich_ with tears streaming down her face. But the reunion was bittersweet. Sooty never allowed her to come closer.
Waite said she would recognize him anywhere, thanks to a distinctive ear notch and a white patch of fur. She opened the window and called his nickname, Soot Soot, which he looked up at as if he hadn’t heard it in years.
“I ran to grab some treats from my kitchen, and Sooty was still sitting there,” Waite said. “I have dogs now, but I thought the dog treat bag might tempt him over. He just looked at me. I told him I missed him and cried a lot.”
But as she opened the window wider and called again, Sooty walked off in the other direction, disappearing by the time she reached the side of the house. He hasn’t returned since.
Waite noticed that he appeared thinner and had patches of missing fur on his back legs but otherwise seemed healthy.
“My immediate neighbors haven’t seen him either,” she said. “I’ve not spoken to the house down the road, who initially fed him and had him visit, because I’m still a little hurt that they fed him in the first place.”
She suspects the collar he was wearing came from the neighbors who originally housed him, and he has either been there or living outdoors.
Though she couldn’t reach him, Waite believes the brief sighting was a goodbye from Sooty, now likely 14 years old—one last interaction to leave a lasting memory.
Tips for Reuniting With a Lost Cat
Every year, millions of pets go missing in the United States, and only about 52 percent of lost cats are reunited with their families, an article from Psychology Today states. Permanent identification, such as microchipping with up-to-date owner contact information, significantly increases the chance of animals being returned safely.
A study from the American Veterinary Medical Association found that 38.5 percent of stray cats entering shelters with a microchip were returned to their owners, compared to just 1.8 percent of those without one.
Using a GPS tracker, such as Fi Collars or AirTag collars, can also help locate a roaming cat in real time, but these items could fall off or disconnect. Owners who lost their pets are encouraged to post photos at local animal shelters, vet clinics and community groups, and leave out familiar scents, including their favorite blanket or bedding, to help a hesitant cat return home.
Viewer Reactions
The March 10 TikTok video left people sobbing, and as of Wednesday, it had more than 484,800 views, 39,400 likes and 477 comments.
“The way he kept looking back like I should have stayed with you, but I have to go back now,” wrote one user.
Another pointed out: “He looks so healthy for his age, though gorgeous boy.”
A few people suggested she leave treats out for him, which she said she has been doing, or a cat house. She’s hopeful she’ll be able to gain his trust again.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to [email protected] with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
In a polarized era, the center is dismissed as bland. At Newsweek, ours is different: The Courageous Center—it’s not “both sides,” it’s sharp, challenging and alive with ideas. We follow facts, not factions. If that sounds like the kind of journalism you want to see thrive, we need you.
When you become a Newsweek Member, you support a mission to keep the center strong and vibrant. Members enjoy: Ad-free browsing, exclusive content and editor conversations. Help keep the center courageous. Join today.
