Milo and Mickey, two tuxedo cats that may be long-lost bothers, were reunited against all odds four years apart and to the same loving couple in Texas. Even more amazing, Milo was feral and living at the airport for years. Somehow, he learned to trust and show affection to people, unlikely for adult feral cats.
A Highly Improbable String of Events
It all started years ago, in 2017. Pilot Marcus Vincent, who lived in California, was flying into the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) Airport. On the flight, the co-captain told him about a friendly kitten hanging out at an airport terminal, knowing Vincent loved cats. Indeed, Vincent wanted to find the kitten and decided to try and catch him.
During a layover in Boston, the pilot bought some cat food. Then, when he arrived in Texas, he just happened to dock at the neighboring terminal. After heading to the kitten’s usual hangout, he spotted him, a beautiful black and white cat. The pilot took pictures but couldn’t catch the young cat.
After calling his wife Debbie, he told her, “This cat looks so scared.” Immediately, she started working to find someone to capture Mickey safely. However, someone was already on it the very next day.
Rescuer Saves Mickey – then Milo Years Later
Unbeknownst to the pilot and his wife, rescuer Connie Ziegler Stout from the nonprofit Mid-Cities Community Cats was on her way to trap Mickey. A kind airport employee had been feeding him, and slowly Mickey was becoming more affectionate. Then, they contacted Stout for help.
Fortunately, the cat lover was able to trap Mickey. Then, she took him to the veterinarian to be fixed as part of the rescue’s trap, neuter, release (TNR) program. According to Yahoo!, Stout ran into a friend while leaving the vet, and they talked about Mickey. Two days later, Debbie Vincent contacted the friend, who was active in DFW cat rescues. You guessed it; she asked if she knew anything about Mickey –Synchronicity!
Soon, Mickey came home to the Vincent’s California home. At first, he “put the fear of you-know-what” into Debbie, still an unsure stray. But over time, he adjusted and became a pampered, cuddly house cat.
Mickey at the airport via Facebook
The Unlikely Taming of Milo, the ‘Unicorn Kitty’
After three years, Stout got a tip about an adult tuxedo cat living at the same DFW airport. She knew that an adult cat like Milo was not likely to be well-suited to adoption.
Over the next year, Stout watched for Milo as she fed the cats near the airport regularly. However, he distrusted her and would run away when she approached. Then something amazing happened. Over the year, Milo learned to trust people.
“All I can say… the fact that Milo kitty became friendly and adoptable as an adult living at the airport.. he’s for sure a unicorn kitty,” said Stout on Facebook.
An airport employee who was a dog lover became a cat lover and slowly taught Milo to trust.
“Well… I guess this airport employee dog person, now also a cat person, unbeknownst to her and me, happened to be a cat whisperer and Milo’s feral temperament went out the window!” Stout says.
Now that Milo was friendly, Stout realized he was now in danger at the busy airport. Unlike most feral cats, he was no longer fearful of people or even cars. Although she had her hands full with rescue efforts, she picked up Milo and took him home.
Milo at the airport via Facebook
A Reunion for Milo and Mickey
Once Milo was safe at home, Stout took to social media with a video about the beautiful cat. Would anyone adopt him? Of all the people in the world, it was Debbie Vincent who replied. Now, she and her husband were moving to Texas.
See the video via Facebook/Connie Ziegler Stout below:
To Vincent, it was clear that Milo and Mickey could be long-lost brothers. Soon, she plans to confirm it with DNA testing. Now reunited, the two kitties are adjusting to their forever home together.
“This has come full circle. Both kitties grew up at the DFW airport terminal…. Both kinda look the same…both came from the same area at the airport and now both adopted to the same family,” said an amazed Stout via Facebook.
Milo and Mickey together after years. Image via Facebook
Today, the Vincents encourage everyone to give stray cats like Milo and Mickey a chance. During the summertime, shelters like the Fort Worth Animal Shelter are crowded and need help from their communities.
Hundreds of cats like Milo and Mickey are looking for their forever homes in three Fort Worth adoption locations.
Milo and Mickey at home via Facebook
Milo and Mickey at homevia Facebook
Milo and Mickey via Facebook/Connie Ziegler Stout with airport by bilaleldaou via Pixabay, Pixabay License
