Couple reunites with stolen cat: 'You can't make that stuff up'
BEAVERTON, Ore. – A Beaverton couple whose cat was stolen six months ago called her return "a miracle."
Patrick Gillett and Lisa Kinsley searched high and low for their cat, Niko, and said they never gave up hope. They went to the Bonnie L. Hayes Small Animal Shelter in Hillsboro, Ore. every day, hoping Niko had turned up.
“We did everything we possibly could to try and find her,” said Kinsley. “We’ve had her nine years and we’re real animal lovers, and so when somebody stole her it was very painful for us.”
“We were traumatized,” said Gillett.
A neighbor told the couple they saw two men pick Niko up and walk away.
They made flyers and searched for Niko every day.
Saturday, they went to the Bonnie L. Hayes shelter to fill out adoption forms for a new cat, when another animal-loving couple walked in with a pet carrier.
“They opened the pet carrier and there was Niko,” said Kinsley.
“It was really shocking,” said Gillett. “It almost didn’t compute. You’d think you’d be excited and happy. I almost felt overwhelmed.”
The couple who found Nico even took her to a vet and spent their own money to get her medicine.
“It was the most serendipitous thing that’s ever happened at this shelter,” said Animal Services Manager Deborah Wood.
Now Niko is back at home, like she never left.
“It’s a real miracle, the synchronicity of that timing,” said Kinsley. “You can’t make that stuff up.”
How awesome of the people who found her to take time and money to make sure the kitty is ok.That being said,I'm a firm believer of keeping my kitties inside.Its been my experience is that they stay healthier and live longer.I have friends that are constantly taking their cat to the vet because he keeps on getting in fights.I have a fourteen year old that Iv'e only taken to the vet once to get him fixed when he was a kitten.
Yay, what an amazing story.....someone leads a charmed life. Happy for everyone!! Cool t-shirt on the guy too.
A cat burglar eh? lol. Â Glad everything turned out good.Â
 @Cooper97060 Cat burglar who is probably a large pet snake feeder.
I am SO thrilled for them! They are neighbors of ours, and it was totally sad to see how much this affected them. They were so worried about her, and as soon as I saw this heading, I exclaimed that I hoped it was them! It's awesome to see that it is!Â
 @SilverGuardian Yay! Do you know where Nico has been? How did he get from the 2 men who picked him up to the people who brought him in?  So glad he is home safe now!
 @SilverGuardian oops! Just read again and saw Nico is a she :)
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 @swimbad Who would want a cat? ;-)
 @mikeyb123  @swimbad people with large snakes who are trying to keep them fed for free
 @swimbad Your aunt is too simple to be allowed to drive. Time to put her away.
And people say there is no God who loves us. If you can believe this is nothing but coincidence in a meaningless world, I feel very sorry for you.
@ormom Life is full of coincidences.Some good some bad.Its interesting that you "followers" seem to leave your imaginary friend out of it when bad things happen to people.Where was this so called entity when children were being mowed down by a raving lunatic?
 @noneofyourbizzness
I do no such thing. However, the nature of a forum doesn't allow me to explain good and evil and how they can exist together. Sorry. Truly.
 @ormom I feel sorry for you too, your are pathetic.
 @swimbad  @ormom like #2 from muah!
 @swimbadÂ
so is your spelling
@swimbad...I agree with you completely!
Niko's a beautiful kitty; I'm glad she's back with her human family..! Â Â :-)
This story makes a good case for keeping cats indoors, though... just too many bad things can happen to them when they're loose outside...Â
 @margay1 One *can* fence a yard in a manner that is kitty-escape-proof if one wants. I did so for my 4  beloved cats who all passed from old age but got their time in the sun (literally), safely.
 @whirledworld ~  You are so right..!   I had a friend in Calif who built an "elevated sun-porch" for her cats... She just added a large "shelf" outside one of her bedroom windows; it had 3 walls and a roof, was bolted to the house, and was supported by 2 stilts on the outside edge.  The cats entered their "porch" via the window; in bad weather, she just called the cats in and closed the window.  It was screened in, except for the roof; that was solid, to provide shade and keep things dry.  Her cats just loved it... and they were up off the ground and safe from dogs, cars, other people, etc.  (and the couldn't dig up her garden!)   Win-win..!   :-)Â
 @margay1 I agree with you. It is irresponsible as an owner to allow your cat to wander and (as this story demonstrates) dangerous for you cat. They can be hit by cars, poisoned, used as target practice and stolen (sometimes to be used for terrible things) If you love your cat, keep it in the house. Mine stay in the house and are quite happy. I never have to live in fear that something terrible is going to happen to them.
@leapfrogger @margay1 Really? Irresponsible to allow a cat to have some time outdoors just because something bad might happen? Well, something bad might happen if my child were to be allowed outside the house as well, should I lock him up inside the house and never allow him out because I'm afraid something bad might happen? I have two cats with 24-hour access outside through a never-closed cat door. They're are VERY happy and love to cuddle with our family but sometimes want to go play outside.Â
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Well, I guess that means my family doesn't love our cats...horrible people we are.
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Stop judging people for different decisions than yours and assuming you have all the right answers. Live life and enjoy it without looking down on others that aren't exactly like you.
 @Eric  @leapfrogger I'm sorry you feel that way but the statistics prove that cats live longer, healthier and just as happy lives being indoors. I do feel it is irresponsible to allow your cat to roam because there are too many factors out there that would rather see them dead. However, if that is the chance you are willing to take, then yes, you are free to do as you please. I don't envy having to tell your kids why their cat isn't coming home though.  I will judge you, just as you judged me for my opinion. I'm not looking down on anyone but perhaps you're feeling guilty.  I will always advocate for the animals.  I would be devastated if something happened to my cats that I could have prevented. My cats will never be poisoned by an angry neighbor, stolen off the street for God knows what horrible fate, run over by a car, shot with a BB gun by kids or eaten by a coyote. I wish you could say the same for your cats as their lives are in your hands.
 @leapfrogger  ~  Good post, leapfrogger.., although when it comes to my cats, I'm not sure who "owns" who..!  :-)  Â
Mine are also happy to be indoors; they're warm & dry in winter, and cool in the summertime... they have food and fresh water, lots of toys, lots of back-scratches and cuddling, and they have the run of the house...they will not be hit by cars or poisoned (by accident or otherwise), and they don't have to deal with fleas or ticks. Â Â They love looking out of the windows, but neither of them shows any interest in going outside. Â Â
Win-win for all of us..! Â :-)
@margay1 @leapfrogger Mine are happy too.They especially enjoyed ruining my new furniture.
 @margay1  @leapfrogger I'm with you two! I shudder at the thought of my kitties being outside, unattended. We take them out sometimes, but on leashes or in the car for a ride. ~ The other problem with outdoor cats is them making my garden in front of my kitchen window their very own liter box! Pew!
AH! A great feel-good story. Thanks!