For animal rescuer and teacher Betsy O’Neill of Connecticut, saving animals has long been more than a hobby, it’s a way of life.
Over the past decade, she has cared for countless strays, helping them recover and find loving homes. But out of all those rescues, one stood out above the rest.
It wasn’t just because of the animal she saved, but because of how that same cat would later disappear, testing her family’s faith and determination before finding her way back home in the most unexpected way.
The Rescue That Started It All
One afternoon, O’Neill received a call about a mother cat and her kittens in need of urgent help. Without hesitation, she set out to rescue them.
When she arrived, she discovered the little feline family waiting. It seemed like a typical rescue at first, until one kitten caught her son Reilly’s eye.
“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 ensuring the kittens were safe, O’Neill brought them to New Milford’s Animal Welfare Society, where they received care until they were ready for adoption.
When the time came, the O’Neill family adopted both sisters, naming them Padmé and Aayla.
At first, the pair were shy, cautiously adjusting to their new surroundings. But soon, they revealed their lively personalities. Padmé quickly became the bold one: the family’s “wild child.”
“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.
Their dog, Maizie, adored his feline siblings. Even when Padmé’s antics wore him out, he always welcomed her back for snuggles.
A Walk Gone Wrong
Padmé was always kept indoors, but she loved gazing at the outside world from her favorite window perch. Wanting to give her a safe taste of adventure, Reilly bought her a harness and leash.
That small decision led to every pet owner’s worst nightmare.
“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.
Drawing on her experience as a rescuer, O’Neill immediately began searching.
She set up cameras, posted on social media, notified shelters, and placed flyers throughout the neighborhood. She even built a feeding station near their home, hoping the food might lure Padmé back.
Days turned into weeks, and still there was no sign.
Then, 26 days later, something incredible happened: two glowing eyes appeared on one of the cameras.
Padmé was alive. But she remained cautious, skillfully avoiding traps and retreating into the woods. Eight days later she reappeared, and soon after, she was seen again about a mile from the house.
Despite being so close, she refused to approach.
Finally, on day forty, everything changed.
The O’Neills managed to trap a large male cat they believed had been scaring Padmé off. That night, exhausted from searching, Betsy went to bed, while Reilly stayed up to monitor the cameras.
His patience paid off. Padmé finally stepped into the trap.
“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.
Home At Last
When the trap finally closed, Reilly could hardly believe it. After 40 days of searching, Padmé was home.
At first, she hissed and thrashed inside the cage, frightened after weeks of survival. But when she saw Maizie, her old companion, she instantly relaxed. The two greeted each other as if no time had passed.
The next morning, the O’Neills took her to the vet for a full checkup. To their relief, she was healthy, just thinner and tired from her ordeal.
In the following weeks, Padmé slowly returned to her old routines. She remained skittish with loud noises but soon began playing again, curling up in soft blankets, and spending quiet moments beside Reilly.
“[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.
Love That Never Gave Up
For forty long days, the O’Neills refused to lose hope. Their persistence, love, and patience brought Padmé home, proving that even after heartbreak, miracles can happen.
What began as one woman’s rescue mission ended as a full-circle story of devotion.
