I use to have five cats: Mom (Little one), Dad (Big Boy), Garfield, Midnight and Ninja. I would upload pictures but as hard as I have tried over the years, they just don’t like me pointing something at them. Unfortunately, on June 12, 2026, I was sitting in my chair watching TV or keeping busy with something. Mom was sleeping in the corner of the room to my right. Suddenly she wakes up from her nap grasping for air, then passes away (a heart attack I assume).

The four remaining cats were howling for days but soon it settled down and our lives went on. Then on July 4th, 2026, I was feeding the cats and couldn’t find Garfield. It was really hot that week, so most of them were panting late in the afternoon. In the late evening I put the fan in the window to blow cold air in the house (‘cus I don’t run an A/C, to expensive). Late in the night I noticed that Garfield was no where to found. I checked all windows and such, they are all closed. But I do out here and there for a cigarette during the night and perhaps he slipped out when I went out and I didn’t see him.

Last week, I saw a tabby cat like Garfield in the barn behind the house. I wasn’t sure if it was Garfield because the three remaining cats have been constantly knocking things off counters and tables. My eye glasses where knocked on the ground and broken (the small screw on one side was broke in half. Everything is blurry in front of me and far off is unknown. I attempted to call it out of the barn but failed.

A couple nights, I was sitting on the top of my stairs smoking a cigarette and this same cat was just staring me at the bottom of the stairs. I called to it, “Garfield, do you want some num nums(food)….Garfield its Grandpa. Won’t move. When I got up to go down, he scattered away. The same thing happened last night, twice. But I know it/he was up near the door because my cats were peering out the window by the front door and going crazy. I had the light turned off, so I turned the inside light on, opened the door and there he was whining loudly. It’s not loud ‘cus he takes after Dad – they mostly squeak more that yawl. There he was. I knew it because all the kittens have five toes on each paw, a trait gained from Mom. I slowly approached him. He let me pet him, then pick him up so I bought him back in.

The other three cats – Dad, Ninja and Midnight weren’t sure who this new person was at first. A couple of fights. Garfield running all over the place with the others, etc. Finally things calmed down. I eventually went to sleep (3am). When I woke up Garfield was sleeping in my lap (I feel asleep in my armchair in font of the TV). I loved him all over and the rest of of today he keeps coming up for more loving. He wasn’t like that at all in the past. One drawback, at one time I was stroking him and scratching his head..he ended up biting me hard and scratching me leaving a deep cut in my left arm. I still loved ’em. It’s a big change for him from outside to inside again, so I’m trying to be patient.

I’m just glad he wasn’t dead in my house form the heat back them. It was either he got out or died in my apartment but I searched everywhere in my apartment and couldn’t find him. Thankfully he found his way out and survived. I am kind of conflicted whether to keep him inside or let him go because now the other three cats fight with him constantly. I can only hope it temporary, as I’m sure he doesn’t smell like anything he use to since he’s been outside, thus they aren’t sure who he is.

On a positive note, Dad is hissing less, the other two kids Midnight and Ninja are starting to play (not fight) with him. I’ll give it time and see how it goes. I’m just glad he’s back.