In Maine, it's inevitable that wild animals and household pets cross paths.
We don't see those interactions under the cover of darkness or in the woods.
Carolyn Meadow of Saco likes to see the photos of the creatures that walk past the game camera in her backyard. She found a picture of a cat and a red fox.
The cat showed up many times.
Meadow said that it was strange that they only saw the cat at night, but never saw him during the day.
The deer were feeding in the yard while the cat kept its distance. She was worried that it might cross paths with the fox.
Meadow could never have imagined that the cat's owner would be able to locate it. The saga shows that house cats are able to survive in the wild.
Meadow was happy to learn that cats and foxes can coexist peacefully.
"Red foxes are opportunists and could kill house cats, but it's probably not that common," said Shevenell Webb, furbearer biologist for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.
She said that house cats are capable of defending themselves and can climb trees to escape. The cat and the fox seem to be curious about being so close to one another.
Meadow put out canned and dry food because she thought the cat might be wild. Initially, it was at a safe distance, but eventually went to her.
He came over and touched my hand after I approached him slowly, crouched down and spoke to him. Meadow said that this was not the behavior of a cat.
She put the cooked chicken on the porch after she added the cat food. The cat would arrive at dark and wait for the food to be served.
He sat in my lap while I sat on the porch. Meadow said something.
Meadow's sister-in-law suggested she check out the Facebook pages of people who might be looking for lost cats. She almost gave up when she found a post on the "Maine Lost Cat Recovery" Facebook page.
It turns out that "Thumper" disappeared from the beach two months before.
His owner was about to move to Utah and had sold her home. She rented a place in the OOB village.
"Thumper has been an indoor/ outdoor cat for about five years and loves to play outside," said Kerry's daughter.
The cat bolted a few days after the temporary move.
Tarbox said that the last time they saw him was when he sneaked out the front door while his mother was carrying groceries.
The women's two other cats died in the previous year, so it was difficult for them to not know where Thumper was.
Tarbox said it was devastating for them.
They made flyers, posted on social media, spoke with neighbors, and called the local animal shelter.
Tarbox said they got nothing. We began to grieve for the loss of our little guy as the hope that he would return faded.
Tarbox returned to her home in Boston after Kerry left for Utah in the first week of December.
Despite living outside the entire time, Thumper made his way from Ocean Park to the Meadows home in Saco.
Tarbox said that he was a good hunter, but he was not a tough cat. I don't think I've ever heard his voice before.
The women arranged for a reunion after learning that the missing cat was Thumper. Tarbox was worried that he might not remember her.
Tarbox said that he heard his voice and immediately ran to his feet. "He let me scoop him up and we had a few moments of snuggling and purring before turning around and heading back to Boston."
Tarbox said that Thumper is healthy and happy.
I would have no idea if he was gone for two months. Tarbox said that the gift was the best Christmas gift he could have asked for.
In January, Thumper will be on another journey. Tarbox will accompany him to Utah.
"Thumps is happy to be safe and at home with me, but he really should be with his mom," Tarbox said.
