The Cat Had Already Chosen a New Home
There's something particularly funny about the look-alike's behavior.
From the cat's perspective, the situation was apparently excellent.
A stranger had picked him up.
He had been transported to a new home.
There was food.
There was shelter.
And apparently, nobody was asking too many difficult questions.
So why leave?
The cat had seemingly decided that his unexpected relocation was perfectly acceptable.
Cats Don't Always Follow Our Plans
Stories like this show just how unpredictable cats can be.
They can disappear for days, show up at someone else's house, or become comfortable with people they've never met.
That's why animal shelters and veterinarians generally recommend permanent identification such as microchipping, especially for cats that spend time outdoors.
A collar with identification can also help someone recognize that a wandering cat already has a home.
The Real Ending
The most remarkable part of Zak's story isn't that he found a cat that looked like his.
It's that the substitute cat apparently managed to live in his home for an entire week without revealing the mistake.
Then, completely casually, the real cat returned.
One missing cat had become two.
And the supposed impostor had already made himself comfortable.
