Any rescuer out here will tell you that their job is one of the most rewarding things ever.
Betsy O’Neill, a full-time school teacher, has spent the last ten years catching and caring for our furry friends in need, providing them with a life they always deserved but never experienced.
She conducted countless rescuers, but there was one in particular that was different from the rest. After saving this sweet girl, she knew they were meant to be together. However, what she couldn’t predict was the fact that she and her furry friend would end up capturing each other one more time.
Life Works In Mysterious Ways
After receiving a message about a furry friend and her adorable litter, O’Neill took up the rescue mission immediately.
After arriving at the location, O’Neill realized that those who needed her help were a family of cats. Initially, she thought that this rescue wasn’t going to be anything special, but she was proven wrong when she noticed that one of the kittens had an instant connection with her son, Reilly.
“We had recently lost our cat, Leia, and Reilly fell in love with Padmé because he loved her [pastel] coloring. Of course, he talked us into getting two, so we chose the pastel beauty and her sister, [who] had a heart on her nose!” O’Neill told The Dodo.
After they were rescued, the kind woman dropped them off at New Milford’s Animal Welfare Society where they remained under close observation.
The second they were cleared for adoption, the O’Neills drove straight to the New Milford shelter and picked up Padmé and Aayla.
In the beginning, the cats were quite wary of their new surroundings. But, as time went by, they became the cutest and cuddliest furry siblings ever. Padmé even became known as the wild child of the family!
“She’d get a running start, jump straight into the air, and velcro herself onto the cat tree. She’d jump over the dog, off the table onto the refrigerator, over the gate to the cat room and she’d run full force, sometimes sideways, down the hall to pounce on her sister,” O’Neill said.
The family dog, Maizie, adored his new sibling. Even though she was sometimes too much for him, he still adored the moments when they could cuddle together.
Heartbreaking News
Padmé was strictly an indoor cat. But because she loved to sit by the windows and watch the birds, Reilly decided to get her a little harness and take her out on the walk. Unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned.
“Reilly wanted to walk her on the leash with a harness, however, as soon as he got into the yard, she freaked out, jumped out of his arms, flipped in the air, and slipped out of her harness. She ran around to the front of the house, and then he lost sight of her,” O’Neill said.
Since O’Neill had so much experience with catching cats, she immediately got to work.
She set up cameras, posted on social media and even gave out and hung fliers. She also decided to set up a feeding station by her house as well as monitoring cameras. This way, she had a clear view of her entire property.
She and her family spent days trying to catch their furry friend, but they had no luck. After 26 days, O’Neill noticed a pair of glowing eyes on one of the cameras.
Unfortunately, Padmé didn’t set off any of the traps so she ran back into the woods. She came back again eight days later and was even spotted less than a mile away from her home the day after.
But, it wasn’t until 40 days after her disappearance that she was finally reunited with her family.
One night, the O’Neills managed to catch an adult male cat who they suspected was scaring their sweet girl. O’Neill went to sleep immediately after the rescue, but her son decided to stay up. And it was a good thing that he did because he noticed somebody on their motion-sensor cameras.
“He had seen Padmé on the garage camera and quietly ran out to the garage post. He was watching the trap and noticed Padmé moving VERY slowly toward it. She was following the trail of treats I had laid out, and she was taking her time eating each treat. Reilly said it felt like torture watching her slowly walk towards the trap,” O’Neill said.
Together Again
After days of effort, the O’Neills finally had their girl back.
Padmé was a bit stressed out. She kept hissing and trying to get out of her cage. But the second she was Maizie again, she immediately calmed down and started playing with him. The second the morning came, they took Padmé to the local clinic.
After a thorough head-to-tail checkup, Padmé was finally able to go back home and finally relax.
A few weeks passed since her second rescue by the O’Neills, Padmé is slowly adjusting back to her old self. Even though she is a bit anxious around sudden noises and other animals, she still makes sure to do all of the things she did before.
“[Padmé] is back to velcroing herself to the cat tree, but she can typically be found curled up in a warm fleece blanket with her boy, Reilly,” O’Neill concluded.