A couple who lost their home in a flood collapse feared they would also lose their beloved cat, but 26 days later a miracle happened.
Elizabeth Wilkins and her partner Tom Schwartz, both teachers, recently moved into a rental home in Juneau, Alaska. But their new home was at the center of a destructive disaster.
According to the AP, water from the nearby Suicide Basin eroded the river bank and caused a major flood that destroyed several homes in the area. Elizabeth and Tom’s home was destroyed — a moment captured in a viral video:
Luckily, the couple wasn’t home — they were apparently on an ATV ride in Oregon at the time — but they became concerned when their pet cat, Leo, was nowhere to be found.
The couple adopted Leo, a “COVID kitten,” in 2020. Days and weeks passed with no sign of him, but even so, Elizabeth hoped her beloved pet would escape in time and was off surviving on his own.
“I knew he was pretty smart, and so I was pretty confident that he would escape and go somewhere okay,” she told the AP.
The couple searched everywhere, calling Leo’s name, leaving out food, and asking neighbors for help. Then, after 26 days, they got the miracle they hoped for.
Someone shared a photo of a cat on a local community Facebook group, and Elizabeth quickly realized that it was Leo. She quickly rushed to the scene, where her cat was waiting for her.
Fb/Elizabeth Wilkins
“I just started walking down the street calling him and he came running out and said, ‘Oh hey, here I am, you know, where have you been?'” she recalled to the AP.
“Leo was a little thinner but otherwise quite fine,” she added. “He ate four cans of tuna and went outside to k-i.l.l a mouse. I guess that’s how he survived.
Elizabeth said finding Leo was “super joyful” news, both for her and for the community who helped find her cat. After losing her home and possessions to the flood, it was a relief to know that at least her beloved cat had survived.
Fb/Elizabeth Wilkins
What a miracle — we’re so glad Leo is home safe and sound! Please share this amazing news! ❤️