(Photo: submitted)
The cat came back, but not the next day.
It was a Valentines day that a Riverview woman will never forget.
Debbie Douthwright’s cat came back, a year later.
In February of 2021, her family was staying at their camp in Elgin, when three year old Merlin escaped her daughter’s arms.
They searched and hoped he would return,”We stayed at the camp for a month waiting to see if he would come back. We went to other properties nearby, but with no success.”
On February 14th, 2022, while back at the camp Douthwright heard meowing coming from outside, “It was about 10 o’clock at night. I went outside and tried to get closer. My dog had to go out and use the bathroom. I thought if I let my dog out, the cat would never be seen again. But the cat ran right to the dog, and was rubbing up against him. We coaxed the cat back in to the camp.”
Douthwright says Merlin’s collar and tag were still intact, but it wasn’t around his neck, “He was sitting across from me, and he had something around his waistline. I got closer, and there was his collar, it somehow made it’s way around his waist. The tag had his name and my phone number. I have never been so happy in all my life. As soon as I saw his collar, I cried so hard that I hyperventilated. I’m so glad there was no one here to see that. He is my little love story.”
After a visit to the Vet, Merlin is doing great, “Everything is good. He had a small injury under his armpit and he is being treated with antibiotics. But he is good. He is plump. There was someone who was feeding him. He is in really good health,” Douthwright says.
She has been staying at the camp with him until his injury is completely healed, but there will be a surprise for him when he finally goes home to Riverview.
“We have another cat now, one that was adopted after we lost Merlin. I am going to slowly introduce them, because I don’t know what his reaction is going to be like.”
As to whether or not Merlin might make a run for it again, Douthwright says, “He doesn’t even look at the door now to get out.”
