Missing Cat Walks Miles Through Snowstorms To Find His Way Home

SOUTHOLD, NY — After almost three weeks a missing cat who walked miles through snowstorms found his way back to his home in Southold Wednesday.

According to John Forestieri, his cat Buddy was lost outside the North Fork Animal Hospital in Southold on Feb. 8. Buddy had just had surgery and escaped his carrier and the car, running away, Forestieri said.

The next days were fraught with fear and worry as temperatures plummeted and snow fell.

But after more than two weeks and against all odds, Forestieri said his beloved Buddy came to the door.

"As the crow flies — or the cat walks — it was only a little more than two miles, but the vet is on a main road, and to get to our house, he had to do a major trek and cross Route 48," he said.

At about 4 a.m. Wednesday, Forestieri heard Buddy scratching on the slider door. "I thought I was dreaming," he said. "But he did it. He found his way home."

Buddy, he said, was a little skinny, but not emaciated, and crying — more vocal than usual.

Forestieri searched for Buddy over long hours and days. "At first I was holding out hope that he'd be able to stay warm," he said. "He's an indoor/outdoor cat — he has some skills."

But he'd just had surgery and had a wound on his cheek, adding to Forestieri's concern. Forestieri was thankful that Buddy had been on antibiotics when he went missing.

As the days passed, the outlook became more bleak, Forestieri said. "I walked for miles, for days and days and days," he said. "Then the weather got nasty. I didn't give up on him, but I did think, 'I don't think I can do anything for him now.'"

Very worried, Forestieri began to think that either someone had taken him or that he'd met a terrible fate, and when the snow cleared, he might find a heartbreaking ending.

Buddy would be able to find his way back easily if he'd been lost near his home, Forestieri said. "But this was by the vet. It was like a one in a millon chance that he'd find his way home."

Forestieri thinks maybe Buddy followed deer tracks or some other animal trail over the two-and-a-half weeks that he was missing.

Buddy has been part of the family for almost 10 years, since he was adopted by Forestieri's stepdaughter, Forestieri said.

He thanks all who helped search for Buddy and the North Fork Animal Hospital, where staff was "teary-eyed" with worry, too.

Buddy touches hearts, Forestieri said. "He's an ambassador. That's his nickname, 'the Ambassador.' He makes friends with all the animals."

When he came, Forestieri said he and his wife Carol were overjoyed. "I felt great. It was very emotional — lots of tears."