Here’s a bloody heartwarmer: a cat who went missing nearly a week ago has been reunited with its owners in Sydney‘s inner west – but not before making national news for showing up in the Sydney Harbour Tunnel, 20km away.
My cat who has been missing for the week has been found. In the Sydney Harbour tunnel!
— Alice Leung (@aliceleung) January 21, 2018
Alice Leung, a science teacher from Homebush, explained the incredible journey of her cat Vix on Twitter today.
Vix had gone missing on Tuesday night, having somehow made it over Leung’s cat-proof rollers on her fence. As Leung explains, the family had gone out looking for Vix, expecting her to be at least within the neighbourhood, as cats usually don’t stray too far from their home base. But when they had no luck, Leung had started to suspect the worst.
But after spending so much time looking, we still couldn’t find her. I was starting to assume maybe she got hit by a car.
— Alice Leung (@aliceleung) January 21, 2018
It turns out that somehow, Vix had ended up in the Sydney Harbour Tunnel, yonks away from Homebush – and had appeared on the news. Twice!
A cat caught prowling through the Sydney Harbour Tunnel has been rescued. It was initially spotted in northbound lanes on Wednesday afternoon. Officers had spent half an hour trying to catch the cat. They had no luck. Early this morning, it was back. #7News pic.twitter.com/cas9Y1uN6k
— 7NEWS Sydney (@7NewsSydney) January 19, 2018
Meanwhile, Leung had been sharing pictures of Vix in lost pet groups on Facebook, with no luck – until someone put her in touch with a maintenance worker for – you guessed it – the Sydney Harbour Tunnel.
I was then able to contact the person who found Vix and exchange some info to confirm Vix’s identity. This included confirming her microchip number. Which matched!!!
— Alice Leung (@aliceleung) January 21, 2018
I immediately made the drive to pick her up and bring her home. The person who found her is a staff member for Sydney Harbour Tunnel. Then I found out Vix was the cat spotted in the tunnel by drivers and made it on the news. https://t.co/o7MF9ireag
— Alice Leung (@aliceleung) January 21, 2018
How Vix got all the way from Homebush to the Tunnel remains a mystery. Some people have suggested that there might be an anti-cat vigilante in Leung’s neighbourhood who’s been trapping and releasing them; fortunately, Leung says that Vix is now “permanently grounded“.
She’s also expressed her thanks to the worker who rescued Vix and took such good care of her, and to the person on social media who connected them.
And also the other person who connected me to the tunnel staff member. She is awesome.
— Alice Leung (@aliceleung) January 21, 2018
This also shows the power of social media. Without social media, Vix wouldn’t be home right now. End.
— Alice Leung (@aliceleung) January 21, 2018
Social media: it ain’t all bad.
People’s hearts have, obviously, been extremely touched by this Homeward Bound-style yarn.
Wow, Alice, what a story! Glad kitty is home again.
— Kerrie Quee (@KerrieQ) January 21, 2018
What an incredible story!!! So glad Vix is home safe, what amazing adventures she has had!!!
— Priscilla (@trisgilla) January 21, 2018
It was a bit shocking watching her on the news clip!
— Alice Leung (@aliceleung) January 21, 2018
That is just incredible. I watched that cat on the news! Great news that Vix is safely back with you #ninelives
— Fiona Payne (@FionaPayne9) January 21, 2018
Maybe it’s car broke down? 😀 pic.twitter.com/GAzU29OIdO
— Brendan Jones 🚴 (@jonesytheteachr) January 21, 2018
A big round of applause to the quick-thinking Tunnel staff member who nabbed li’l Vix. We hope she never strays again.
One more tweet. Here she is home, resting 🙂 End attempt 2 pic.twitter.com/MJuznrA55r
— Alice Leung (@aliceleung) January 21, 2018
