Debbie Armstrong, Laura Flakemore welcome missing cat Angus home

A Cygnet family had come to the “gut-wrenching” conclusion their beloved cat had died after being missing for more than one and a half years. But Angus the “prodigal cat” has returned home in “surreal” news. ANGUS’ MIRACLE>>>

He is missing a tooth, his coat looks terrible and he weighs just over a third of what he did the last time Cygnet’s Debbie Armstrong saw him 20 months ago, but Angus the “prodigal cat” has returned home.

Ms Armstrong shared the “bizarre, surreal” news with the Mercury, five days after Angus, who disappeared in December 2020, “rocked up”, wolfed down a massive feed and “acted like everything was totally normal”.

Ms Armstrong said she and daughter Laura Flakemore, 16, Angus’ “best friend”, had given him up for dead after months of searching in the wake of his disappearance.

Angus initially fled in the wake of a round of cherry bombs being set off in neighbouring orchards, Ms Armstrong said.

She concluded Angus, who had a stress disorder and bladder issues due to his “obesity” – he formerly weighed about 10.5kg – had been done in by a snake.

“It was pretty gut-wrenching, he was a big, fat, fluffy ball of joy,” Ms Armstrong said.

“We never really got over the fact he was gone, he really is the coolest cat, he’d watch us brush our teeth and sit on the bath, he’s just a real dude.”

But the “prodigal cat” returned to the family, albeit a shadow of his former self, weighing just 3.5kg.

He is missing a tooth, his coat is mangy and he has a chest and nose infection, but otherwise the vet gave him a clean bill of health on Monday.

“He really should have had all sorts of organ failure with how thin he is,” Ms Armstrong said.

“But he’s got the same nature as when he left.”

Ms Armstrong said this is now the second time Angus chose the family – he came into their lives about four years ago when, aged about six months, he made his home under the family’s spa.

As reward for his loyalty and resilience, Angus is now living the life of Riley.

“Angus is having a smorgasbord, fresh tuna, rump steak, pretty much everything he wants, four or five types of dried foods,” Ms Armstrong said.

“He can sleep wherever he wants, be wherever he wants to be.”

Originally published as Debbie Armstrong, Laura Flakemore welcome missing cat Angus home