Nine kilometers, five days, and only one direction: home. This is the feat of Nerone, a black cat of about four years old, with copper highlights, medium-long fur, and emerald green eyes, who managed to return to his owner from Lanusei to Loceri. His story left even those who participated in the search for him speechless. Nerone arrived at Alba Usai's home over a year ago. A chance meeting quickly developed into a special bond. Despite the presence of other cats and dogs, after some initial difficulties, the feline settled in and won the hearts of his new family.
"I was desperate"
To protect him from the dangers of the road, Alba had decided to have him neutered and took him to the veterinarian Alessandro Pistis in Lanusei. The surgery went well, but when it was time to bring him home, the unexpected happened. Nerone escaped from his carrier and ran away. "I was desperate," Alba says. "We searched for him morning and evening, in the woods, near the railway. I felt terribly guilty. I thought of all the obstacles he would have to face: fences, nets, other animals, and especially cars. In an environment he wasn't familiar with, I never imagined he could find his way." For five days, she didn't stop looking for him. She returned, called him, and left food. Unexpectedly, the surprise. "I was at the window and I saw a black cat. From a distance, he looked like Leone, and I thought he was my other cat. Then he meowed. I got closer and realized it was him. It was Nerone. He had come back."
He had traveled about nine kilometers, from Lanusei to Loceri, crossing countryside, roads, and residential areas until he reached Alba's house, located on the outskirts of town. He arrived dirty, covered in brambles, hungry, and thirsty. The owner immediately fed and cuddled him. "I thought he no longer trusted me. Instead, he showed me that the bond we had built was stronger. He's too intelligent, not only for having managed to find his way home amidst a thousand dangers, but also for having understood that there is a family here who loves him."
The animal's friend
During the search, Alba was also able to count on the help of Barbara Pistis, manager of the shelter under construction, "Casa di Max." "Animals amaze me more and more," Pistis says. "They have an incredible sense of smell and can overcome so many obstacles. At first, I was skeptical that Nerone would return on his own, given the distance, but I was soon convinced. Alba is proof that you should never give up: she returned every day. I was able to give her some advice, but the cat did it all on his own. It's a rare and powerful love story."
The story also prompts reflection. "When you take an animal to the vet," Pistis explains, "you should always use a safe carrier. A cat can be calm and docile at home, but outside its own environment it can become frightened and develop incredible strength." This attention can make a difference, especially because not all animals have the ability to orient themselves and find their way home. "Nerone's was an exceptional case," he says. This time, however, the escape had a happy ending. After five days and nine kilometers, Nerone returned home. To his beloved Alba.
Federica Melis