A Freak Accident and a Heart-Stopping Phone Call
Last month, Teagan Maddux received the phone call that every pet owner dreads. While she was away on a trip in Colorado, her beloved cat, Moose, managed to escape from her parents’ home in San Diego. The incident was a rare and unpredictable accident—the family dog had, by some chance, opened the door from the outside, allowing Moose to slip out into the night.
“Moose got accidentally let [out] by the dog, who opened the door from the outside — complete freak accident,” Maddux explained on TikTok.
@teagan.maddux If you live in Valley Center, PLEASE keep an eye out. I miss this cat so so much. 😭❤️ #missingcat #lostcat ♬ Poison Root – Alex G
A Cross-Country Race to Rescue a Lost Companion
Immediately upon hearing the news, Maddux flew back to San Diego in a desperate attempt to find Moose. But despite her determination, she couldn’t help but fear the worst.
“It sounds a little dramatic, but I think this could easily be one of the worst weeks of my life so far,” she shared. “If you’ve ever lost a pet, you know how difficult it is.”
Moose: The Adventure Cat
Maddux first met Moose as a kitten in a Santa Cruz animal shelter. Unlike most kittens, Moose was incredibly timid and had been passed over for over a month. But Maddux saw something special in her.
“[She was] the scaredest cat in the whole place,” Maddux recalled.
Once adopted, Moose quickly surprised everyone by revealing a lively and outgoing personality. Alongside Maddux and her partner, Casey, Moose embraced an adventurous lifestyle, traveling with them in their truck camper and exploring the great outdoors. It wasn’t long before they affectionately dubbed her “adventure cat.”
The Search: 45 Days of Hope and Heartache
When Moose disappeared, Maddux and Casey put everything on hold. For nearly seven weeks, they devoted their energy to bringing their feline family member back home. Their efforts included:
- Setting food traps in the neighborhood
- Placing Moose’s litter box outside to draw her back
- Scattering dirty laundry to leave a scent trail
- Installing motion-sensor cameras around the area
Through the cameras, they caught brief glimpses of Moose cautiously navigating the area, but she remained elusive.
“We’ve seen her on camera a few times over the last few weeks, but we haven’t come close enough to actually see her in person,” said Maddux.
A Miraculous Capture on Her Birthday
As the days wore on and Moose hadn’t appeared on camera for nearly two weeks, Maddux began to lose hope. But then, on the night of Moose’s second birthday, something incredible happened—one of the food traps finally worked, and Moose was caught.
Overcome with relief, Teagan rushed the disoriented cat inside.
“After a minute, she snapped out of feral mode, and she remembered who we were,” Maddux said. “She can’t stop purring, and I’ve never seen her so tired.”
On the Road to Recovery
Though Moose was thinner and infested with fleas after her time outdoors, Maddux was confident that her beloved cat would bounce back quickly with rest, care, and affection.
“Everything makes sense again,” she said, finally at peace after weeks of worry.
This heartwarming reunion is a powerful reminder of the bond between pets and their people—as well as what can be achieved with perseverance, love, and just a bit of birthday luck.
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