UPDATE: Long-Haired Cat Returns To Short Hills Home

MILLBURN, NJ — A little over a year ago, a family of four in Short Hills lost their Siberian cat of nine years to cancer. Last year, a friend gave them a kitten who is the same breed. But on Sunday evening, Mela went missing.

"She is a wonderful active young cat and was just starting to go out more and more happily," said her owner, Claudia, "chasing around our backyard and adjacent properties. She loved to go out in the evening as well."

Sunday evening, Mela took off during a stroll and didn't come home.

On Monday night, her owners continued a frantic search, placing posters in the area. Claudia described Mela as "white and fluffy, curious and friendly but cautious, and perhaps just got stuck in somebody’s garage or someone took her in meaning well. She also has a chip so it should be clear that she is not a stray cat."

However, late on Monday, a few hours after a story ran on Patch.com, the kitten turned up at their family's door. Claudia said she was grateful to have Mela back. "Nobody called," she said, "she just reappeared and we are so happy!"

She added, "we are grateful to all the friendly neighbors who checked their properties and promised to keep an eye out for her while she was missing yesterday."