Woman Googled ‘ginger cat deformed ears’ after seeing one on the street — what she found led to a tear-jerking discovery

The cat wasn’t chipped, but when he didn’t come home that night, she knew something was wrong.

PUBLISHED 2 HOURS AGO

(L) Google on iPad 2, (R) A ginger cat walking past a building. (Representative Cover Image Source: Getty Images | (L) ersinkisacik, (R) Carrigphotos)

Losing a pet is heartbreaking, especially when they go missing without a trace. Dee Eaton from Lenham in Kent, England, lost her beloved cat in 2023. But two years later, in September 2025, an unexpected message brought news that left her completely surprised.

Ginger cat relaxing on couch in living room surrounded with cushions. (Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Maryviolet) — Ginger cat relaxing on couch in living room surrounded with cushions. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Maryviolet)

Fifty-five-year-old Dee Eaton let her "friendly, big, fluffy" cat, Marmalade, outside after dinner one evening. Unbeknownst to Eaton, that would be the last time she saw her pet. Since chipping pets was not mandatory in the UK, Marmalade was not chipped either. But Eaton knew something was wrong when her cat did not come home that night. Worried, she began searching but couldn’t track him down. She soon turned to Facebook to post a missing cat advertisement. After months of relentlessly looking for him, Eaton began giving up, assuming that "he had taken himself off somewhere to pass over, maybe it was his time."

Ginger cat watching sunset in Amsterdam. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Aylata) — Ginger cat watching sunset outside. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Aylata)

Following his disappearance, Eaton welcomed two more cats to her family: ginger rescue Larry and black kitten Dottie. However, Eaton received an unexpected message on September 27, 2025, that changed her life for the better. A woman named Kathleen Lake asked if she was still looking for her ginger cat that went missing two years ago. Eaton, who did not think much, grew suspicious when the woman began describing the cat she saw, wandering in the streets of Barming. Recalling the conversation, Eaton told Newsweek, "Barming is about 30 to 40 minutes away from where I live. I didn't think it could be Marmalade for one minute."

However, Eaton did not want to lose hope and explained to Lake about the distinctive feature that could help identify Marmalade. He had two deformed ears following surgery several years ago. Eaton, who was expecting a 'no' from Lake's end, was surprised to learn that the cat was indeed her missing pet. Lake, who was on her walk for lunch, spotted the cat and was amused by his unusual appearance. When she Googled "ginger cat deformed ears," she came across Eaton's Facebook post, which prompted her to get in touch.

Woman sitting holding lap cat in arms petting stroking orange ginger kitty - Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by ablokhin — Woman sitting holding lap cat in arms petting stroking orange ginger kitty. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by ablokhin)

Overjoyed, Eaton went to meet the cat and made the familiar noise she used to call him, and there he was, walking straight toward her. After a tearful reunion, Marmalade was immediately taken to the vet. However, Eaton discovered that he had been chipped by his new owners, who had named him Bob. She grew distraught at the thought of losing him again, but when she contacted the new owners, they were kind enough to allow Marmalade to return to Eaton. She later learned what had happened during Marmalade’s two-year journey. He was taken in by one of the units at an industrial estate and sheltered as a stray, where they called him Bob. When the business relocated, he went with them, but was later left behind and cared for by the local community, until one family officially adopted him. And now, Marmalade had finally found his way back to his owner, Eaton.

Smiling woman in checked shirt hugging and embracing ginger cat - Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Dima Berlin — Smiling woman in checked shirt hugging and embracing ginger cat. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Dima Berlin)

The cat was a source of joy to Eaton and her son, especially during a 2021 health crisis when Eaton was paralyzed and in a coma from Guillain-Barré Syndrome. After four months in the hospital, Marmalade stayed faithfully by her side. After the emotional reunion, Eaton updated her two-year-old Facebook post to, "FOUND AFTER 2 YEARS MISSING."