Senior Cat Gets Lost Outside for 3 Weeks, Miraculously Makes It Home

A senior munchkin cat, who had never been outside before, went missing after his owners left the front door open by mistake, and they couldn't believe their eyes when he randomly showed up at their door three weeks later.

In a viral Reddit post shared earlier in October by @Stsberi97, the senior tabby, Dexter, can be see walking around the house, acting like nothing happened, after his owners thought he was gone for good, blaming themselves for what happened.

"Dexter came back! After 3 and a half weeks outside my 18 year old cat just came back this morning! I am beside myself with Joy. What a miracle!" reads a caption.

The poster, Steve Beri, told Newsweek that the 18-year-old cat went missing on September 22, after managing to get outside for the first time when his daughter accidentally left the door open for a moment.

"I have a family of four, and we were all devastated, especially my daughter because she felt responsible for leaving the door open. After three-and-a-half weeks, we had all but given up hope. We tried so many suggestions online, like leaving the litter outside, setting up a trap, leaving are clothes outside etc," Beri said.

"Wednesday morning, he was back at the back door. We took him to the vet, and they gave him a clean bill of health. It truly was a miracle. I had never felt so much relief in my entire life."

There is nothing worse for a cat owner than losing our pet, but it's not uncommon for them to come back after a while.

Georgia-based veterinarian Jess Kirk says on Vet Explains Pets that, because of their exceptional intelligence and their strong sense of smell and memory, cats can memorize their surroundings, and create a mental map that can help them find their way back home.

However, if your feline is missing, you should not rely on them coming back, but rather do your best to find them. British animal charity Blue Cross says that, when you can't find your cat, you should let their microchip database know immediately, so they can put a note on your pet's record for when they are found.

You can also ask your neighbors, put up posters with their pictures, and see at local veterinarians and rescue centers if the cat has been taken in. Social media is also a great tool to help find your lost pet.

However, there are lots of dangers outside for cats, including speeding cars and other predators, so, to avoid any problems, it is always better to keep them inside, and only allow them outside under your supervision.

Dexter can be seen walking in his home. The senior cat went missing after someone left the door open, and magically reappeared after three weeks. Stsberi97

The post quickly went viral on social media and has so far received over 20,000 upvotes and almost 300 comments on the platform.

One user, Moonsmom181, commented: "Unbelievable! I hope he's ok! Dexter, please stay at home from now on."

NapalmBurns wrote: "Had to go out and perform one last hit …"

AussieMarmaladeCat04 added: "What a relief to hear! It's honestly scary when they vanish!"

Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.