Well, it’s not every day you see a cat floating down the river on a roof. And it’s certainly not every day I write a sentence like that.

But for one family in North Carolina, what had been the worst week of their lives took an extraordinary turn when they returned to the remains of their home eight days later. They didn’t expect to find much. Instead, they found their cat, sitting outside like he’d been waiting for them to show up.

For the Collins family, it was an emotional reunion after a devastating experience. The family said that getting their cat back felt like a bright moment in an otherwise challenging time. Camille Collins joked that their cat Blanco’s survival story was a journey straight out of the movie Homeward Bound.

This cat has had to have used all his nine lives because he came to us as a stray,” she said.

Blanco entered the Collins’ lives just last year. Camille had found him in a compost bin and, along with her family, nursed him back to health. From that point on, they knew he was theirs. They officially adopted him and gave him a name that matched his dramatic personality — Ricardo Blanco.

Blanco’s adventure during Hurricane Helene began when he climbed onto a neighbor’s rooftop in an effort to escape the rising floodwaters. Nan Collins, Camille’s mother-in-law, recalled the moments leading up to his disappearance. “Blanco climbs up on that distribution line that runs to the house, and he … [tries] to climb the metal roof,” Nan said.

Blanco is enjoying being home after his flood adventures.

But the waters were too strong. The family could only watch helplessly as Blanco was swept away. Nan said Blanco ended up “down in the river.” That was the last time they saw him — until his surprise reappearance over a week later. Now that Blanco is safely back home, the family has been keeping a close eye on him. A vet put him on antibiotics to treat issues caused by the floodwaters, including an eye infection.

The Collins family lost nearly everything to the storm. “The floodwaters came up way above even 500-year levels, at least ten feet, and everything we own is in wreckage behind us,” said Camille’s husband, David. Despite the devastation, the family is focusing on the moments that bring them hope, like Blanco’s return.

“He’s doing fine, playing and doing all the normal stuff,” Nan said. “He’s just the whole family’s pet. He’s the kind of pet that goes on hikes with you.” The family has started a GoFundMe to rebuild their lives, and while the road ahead is long, they’re counting their blessings — one furry friend at a time.

Sources: Daily Mail | People