My Cat Disappeared Every Morning—Then I Learned Why
Turns out, my cat was comforting a stranger—every single day.
☕ The Cat Who Crossed the Fence
Today’s story is about a cat named Tasha.
Michelle Ule thought she was just being independent — slipping out the door each morning and jumping the back fence like she had a secret mission. For months, Tasha disappeared at the same time every day, only to return by “cat curfew” and curl up on the bed like nothing had happened.
Michelle had no idea where she was going.
Until one day, she walked a different route home — and discovered everything.
This is the next story in our They Saved Me First series. And it’s one I’m still thinking about.
This 5-minute clip shares the moment she found out where Tasha had been going… and why it mattered more than she ever imagined.
🐱 Meet Tasha
Tasha had been going next door.
Every morning, she’d jump the fence, cross into the neighbor’s yard, and sit beside a man named Chris, who was confined to a wheelchair with a serious illness.
Chris’s wife told Michelle, “She’d put her paw on his foot like she was comforting him. And eventually, she’d climb into his lap.”
Tasha didn’t ask for food. She didn’t live there. But she came every day.
When Chris’s health declined to the point where he couldn’t sit outside anymore, Tasha began asking to come in. The neighbors resisted at first — they knew she belonged to someone else. But she was persistent. Eventually, they let her inside.
And that’s where she stayed.
Curled up next to Chris. Quiet. Present. Just being there.
🧠 What We Didn’t See
One day, Tasha started acting strangely. She was on Chris’s lap, kneading his leg frantically. His wife didn’t understand why — until she looked at Chris and realized he was having a stroke.
They called the ambulance.
Chris survived a little longer.
Michelle didn’t find out any of this until months later, long after Chris had passed.
She said, “I looked at my cat and thought, ‘You don’t act like this at home at all. What on earth?’” And then she added something that stuck with me:
“I was just so gratified that this cat… had ministered to this man in his last days. And the family was very thankful for her.”
💛 A Quiet Kind of Grace
Michelle didn’t train Tasha to be a therapy cat. She didn’t know this was happening. And yet, her cat had been part of someone else’s life in a way Michelle never expected — or even knew about.
That’s what this series is about.
It’s not about cats saving people with superpowers. It’s about presence.
And sometimes the most meaningful presence comes from an animal who just hops the fence every day to sit beside someone who’s suffering.
🌿 Lessons With Fur On Them
🧭 1. We don’t always know the impact our pets are making.
Lesson: Even if you don’t see it, your cat might be showing up for someone else in ways you’ll never know. Their presence might be enough.
Action Step: Watch your cat closely this week. Where do they linger? Who do they gravitate toward? What are they picking up that you might miss?
🤝 2. Comfort doesn’t have to be loud or obvious.
Lesson: Tasha didn’t bring toys. She didn’t demand attention. She just sat with Chris. And that was enough.
Action Step: The next time someone in your life is hurting — or maybe you’re the one struggling — let your pet lead the way. Sit beside them. Let quiet connection be the thing.
🐾 3. Gratitude can come after the fact.
Lesson: Michelle said, “If I had known, I would’ve sent her over with treats every morning.” And I think we’ve all felt that — that moment of delayed gratitude.
Action Step: Give your cat a little extra love today. Even if they’re just “being a cat.” Especially if they’re just being a cat. You never know the difference they’re making.
🐾 Something to Think About
What if your cat has a story you don’t know yet?
What if they’ve shown up for someone quietly, intuitively — like Tasha did?
I think that’s part of the magic of this connection. They don’t need a reason. They don’t need permission.
They just go where they’re needed.
And when we’re lucky — we find out.
🎧 Want to Hear the Full Interview with Michelle?
👉 Click here to listen to the entire podcast episode with Michelle.
Or search Golden Whiskers wherever you get your podcasts and find the episode titled:
“The Cat Who Had A Second Life - And A Purpose.”
Thanks for being here,
Scott 🐾
Founder, Golden Whiskers
This is a beautiful story💓
I found out my cat was a therapy cat as well, after I put a GPS tracker on her to know where she was going. Charley was visiting a woman on the block with a broken neck, a cat with Giardia, another woman home from work with a migraine, and I’m sure the list goes on…🙏🙏
I'm saving this article. I always cringe when you see lovely videos of kitties online and someone is always there to couch quarterback on their soapbox and condemn someone for letting their cat outdoors. I get it why they feel that way, but it's frankly none of their business to tell someone how to care for their kitty. The owner should know their cat and their neighborhood, and their gut feelings about what's best. This story is a great example of that. If the owner had never let her cat outside, Tasha would never have been such a comfort and blessing to that man.