Family Can't Forget Stray Cat on Vacation—Returns Later To Fly Her Home

A girl who fell in love with a stray cat during a family vacation in March 2023 had her dreams come true when the family visited again months later.

After a day at the beach, the family returned to their rental property in Aruba and found a cat sleeping on their car. The daughter, Mattea, told Newsweek that the cat let them pick her up and pet her, but she wouldn't come inside the house. The cat was a "little nervous and unsure."

That didn't matter to Mattea: She immediately felt a connection to this cat and begged begged her parents to bring the cat home. However, the family already had a cat and dog back home in Canada. Her parents said no.

A few months later, the family returned to the same rental in Aruba and much to their surprise, the same cat was there waiting for them. The cat again took to this family, remembering their kindness and affection, and, this time, Mattea was determined to bring the cat home

"What really made the difference in bringing her home was me convincing my parents," she said. "In March of 2023, I was 16. But when we went back in August of 2023, I was about to turn 17. So my parents would ask what I wanted for my birthday, and I said to bring the cat home. Nothing more."

Screenshots from a November 3 TikTok video of a family rescuing a stray cat on a vacation to Aruba. The family returned months later to find the same cat waiting for them. Screenshots from a November 3 TikTok video of a family rescuing a stray cat on a vacation to Aruba. The family returned months later to find the same cat waiting for them. @mattea.mp4/TikTok

The family figured out how to bring her back internationally, buying the cat a plane ticket and carrier. Before long, she was safe and sound in her forever home.

"We just HAD to name her Aruba since that's where we got her from," Mattea said.

It didn't take long for Aruba to become comfortable in her new home. The night they brought her home, she slept on Mattea's face and spent the next day following her around the entire house.

The only hiccup had been Kylo, the family's other cat, who took some time to warm up to his new housemate. Three months passed before the two felines decided to "start being docile to one another."

Viewer Reactions

Mattea shared the heartwarming rescue story to her TikTok account, @mattea.mp4, on November 3, which amassed over 3.8 million views and 818,000 likes as of Saturday, November 16.

"She waited so many cat years for you," said a TikTok user.

Another user added: "This made me cry. Thank you for saving this baby."

A third TikTok user wrote: "She said I will wait no matter how long till my mama returns."