Let me tell you about Moses! Years ago my hubby found a cat that was trying to cuddle up to our big dogs to get warm. It was -40 below and when brought to me it was clear the cat had been abused. Skinny except for the distended stomach and burn marks where someone had put ciggerits out on him. Due to the cold his ears frose off, and part of his tail, all the skin on the pads and nose, along with ear mites and stomach worms. What a sad looking young cat.
Well I took him in. I have never head a cat purr that loud and such a "raspy" meow! He crouched down on my lap and was so happy. Needless to say I never even bothered to look for the "owners" Couple of hundred buck at the vet later I had the most affectionate cat I have ever had. He even purred when I was cleaning out the ears!
A real charmer was Moses. Even people who don't like cats like my Mo. He loved food and did put on some pounds...
A year and 1/2 later Moses dissapeard. We searched high and low for over a week. Called and called, left food out to no responce. We gave up thinking that he had been gotten by a wild critter or such.
The next week I was walking home from past some abondoned buildings, with my then 2 year old daughter. She said " Mommy Mo Kitty!" I told her that Mo was gone, as you do for a young child. She said "Mo Kitty" and tried to go toward the old building. I stopped her and then sure enough I could hear the "raspy" call! and I found him in the bottom of an 8 foot wide culvart that was under an old trailor. He was alive and a lot slimmer. There was a puddle from rain water that kept him going and dry area to sleep in but no way out.
We couldn't believe it! It had been 14 days. Still don't know who was happier, us or Mo.