Wichita woman’s cat was missing for 10 years. But he’s coming home soon

Carol Holmes was thinking about her late father, Robert “Bob” Stevens, on what would have been his 94th birthday on Aug. 19.

“I was home thinking about my dad and missing him,” Holmes said. “I named my cat after him because I loved him so much.”

The cat named Bob was just a 4-month-old kitten when Holmes adopted him from the Kansas Humane Society.

The little white and black tuxedo cat joined Holmes’ other cats, Winston and Copper. All three loved being outside in the backyard and the garden where Holmes lived then near Central and Crestway in east Wichita.

But Bob’s time with his family was short-lived.

“He ended up going missing,” Holmes said. “One day he just didn’t come home with the other two.”

Holmes put up flyers and posted to several websites. Bob had a microchip that identified his owner, which gave her hope that he would be found and returned.

That wasn’t the case.

“I thought, you know, if anybody finds him, hopefully they will be a good Samaritan,” Homes said. “Time just went by and here we are 10 years later.”

The emails

Then, all these years later, Holmes received two emails on Aug. 19. One was from the chip provider and the other from a veterinary clinic in North Carolina. Her long lost cat had been found over 1,200 miles away in Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina.

“I was absolutely stunned,” Holmes said. “I spent the whole weekend trying to process it and kind of get a grip on it.”

Bob had been found by a man on his porch, where the cat had been coming and going and hanging out. The man decided to take Bob to his veterinarian to get him scanned, Holmes told an Eagle reporter.

“Of course they found a chip, and that’s how they traced him to me,” Holmes said. “ I do wish Bob could share his story about his life this past decade, but I can only assume he was cat napped and moved to N.C.”

Arrangements are being made to bring Bob back home. Holmes said she is working with Imagine Home, a non-profit “all volunteer organization and resource for all aspects of cat rescue,” according to the organization’s website.

The man who found Bob offered to foster him until he can be transported back.

“He’s just been so wonderful,” Holmes said. “He loves Bob, he’s got another cat and he’s just taking good care of him while I’m trying to work out all the details.”

Bob is expected to return to Wichita on Sept. 23. Holmes said the trek back for Bob has upfront costs, including getting a health certificate, vaccines and travel supplies.

A GoFundMe was created to help cover expenses. The fundraiser has exceeded the goal amount and any extra funds will be donated to animal rescues, according to Holmes.

“They [Imagine Home] are very busy,” Holmes said. “It’s all people who volunteer to drive, you know, for maybe a leg of the journey which can be 2, 3 or 4 hours.”

Looking forward to reunion

One week before getting the two emails about Bob, Holmes’ Facebook feed popped up two memories: a photo of Bob sleeping next to her dog and photos of her father with the family.

Holmes spoke about her father, who got to meet Bob before he died after a series of strokes and other health issues.

“He went from being a very robust man that looked like he was 10 years younger than his actual age to looking like my great grandpa,” she said.

Her father died in September 2017.

“I think that’s what makes the story more compelling,” Holmes said. “That I got these emails and the notification that he had been found on my dad’s birthday.”

Holmes is eager to be reunited with Bob. She has seen a few videos of cats being reunited with their owners after being apart for a long time.

“I always wondered if Bob would even remember me,” Holmes said. “You know, recognize my voice or scent... I don’t know, but we’ll see.”