Also because it's the internet -- to anyone who wants to know, yes I am certain it was done by a person(s) and no I am not going to share details because you just don't need that shit in your life and if you do, you can get it from someone else.
It was nearly twenty years ago, and when I think about it I am still filled with impotent rage and despair.
There are times when having a really good imagination *suuuuucks*.
Local neighbor with rotating series of orange cats always mystified when one disappears. latest one is gregarious yet reasonably street smart, but predators only need to get lucky once. As it's often tried to walk into my house I must fight the temptation to directly "rehome" it regularly.
With kid you not ever closing doors, Petunia got to roam and luckily survived but she was always home by nightfall. She figured that out on her own. However, I won’t let our next cat roam.
This is how my friend acquired her cat. Cat turned up, said "I live here now".
Friend said "no you don't", and put cat out.
After many iterations of this, cat won, was taken to the vet for checks, and they found a chip.
Friend was had grown attached to cat and was devastated.
Cat's owner was contacted, and during arrangements to return cat, owner asked friend if she would like to adopt cat, as cat did not like sharing a home with toddler and kept running away.
Cat and friend are very happy together.
For some values of "small children". Under about age 4, they're incomprehensive of the "don't let the cat outside" idea, and between 4 and 8, merely incompetent at the task. YMMV.
