In what sounds like a feline adventure straight out of a movie, Drifter—a 3-year-old tabby cat with a knack for living up to his name—was finally reunited with his family after a nearly two-month stint trapped in a storm drain in Duluth, Minnesota.
Drifter, who had always been an indoor cat with big dreams of outdoor exploration, slipped out of his home in mid-July. His owners, Clifton Nesseth and Ashley Comstock, along with their 12-year-old daughter April, spent weeks scouring the neighborhood, hanging up posters, and desperately hoping for his return. As time dragged on without any sign of their beloved tabby, the family began to brace for the worst and even planned a small memorial service for Drifter.
Then, just as hope was fading, fate—or perhaps nine lives—stepped in. Neighbor kids rushed over, reporting that they heard meowing from a storm drain near a construction site. The family sprang into action, digging through dirt and cutting landscape fabric to get to the source of the sound. And then, as if scripted for a heartwarming climax, a tiny tabby paw poked through the fabric, followed by Drifter’s unmistakable head.
In a video captured by a neighbor, Clifton is seen lifting the cat triumphantly into the air, exclaiming, “Drifter! He’s been under there the whole time!” as onlookers cheer and laugh in amazement. After nearly eight weeks underground, Drifter was understandably skinny, but very much alive—and back where he belongs.