Lost Cat Comes Home To Family On Anniversary of Son’s Death  

Written by: Kelli Brinegar
For more than five years, Kelli Brinegar has been using her ability to write and her passion for research to tell the tale of what cats are thinking and why. She has provided care to more than 30 cats in her lifetime.Read more
| Published on December 30, 2020

Losing a child is one of the hardest things for any mother to endure, but learning your child is watching over you from afar can bring some much-needed comfort to a grieving heart. At a time when mom Deb Mosberger desperately needed some joy, her deceased son brought her the cheer she so needed by bringing home the family’s missing cat.

On December 9, 2002, a drunk driver killed Vinny Mosberger. He was only 18 and his family was devastated at his loss. Deb shared a memory she’s kept since that time, of an evening by the fire, when Vinny spoke to her spirit, telling his mom, “Don’t worry. Don’t be real upset, I’m OK.”

This year marks the 18th year since Vinny’s death and in a year as hard as 2020, the family’s old wounds are feeling raw with grief at his loss. When one of the Mosberger cats went missing, things just felt even worse. But Vinny had a surprise that would lift his mom’s spirits.


Image Courtesy of Steve Kohls/Brainerd Dispatch via West Central Tribune

Gone Missing

On November 5th, the Mosberger cats, Abe and Lincoln, went out for their usual outdoor catting. Lincoln came back, but Abe didn’t. Deb wasn’t too terribly worried as Abe liked to overnight outside sometimes, but by the next morning, he still hadn’t returned. The Mosbergers hunted the area, called the neighbors, and tacked up posters, but five weeks passed with no sign of Abe.

But, Deb had a feeling.


Image Courtesy of Steve Kohls/Brainerd Dispatch via West Central Tribune

Cats have been a part of the Mosberger family since Vinny was a small kid. Like his parents, he loved cats and kittens. So as December 9th, the 18th anniversary of Vinny’s death, dawned, and Abe still hadn’t returned home, Deb put out a prayer to Vinny, “I said, ‘OK Vinny, it would be nice if you bring Abe home.’”

“During the day I told a couple people, Vinny is gonna bring Abe home.”

Her mother’s intuition was right.


Image Courtesy of Steve Kohls/Brainerd Dispatch via West Central Tribune

Joyful Return

That night as Deb stood in the kitchen, she heard a familiar cry at the window. Looking up, she couldn’t believe it, but there sat Abe!


Image Courtesy of Steve Kohls/Brainerd Dispatch via West Central Tribune

Back in Deb’s arms, Abe cried most of the evening, relating his adventure to his parents. He stayed near Deb all night long, so relieved to be home. Vinny had indeed been watching over his family from afar and to make a hard time a little easier, he helped bring Abe home.

“Now I can love December again because of this Christmas miracle,” said Deb. “And now the year 2020 is not so bad.”

H/T: www.wctrib.com
Feature Image: Steve Kohls/Brainerd Dispatch via West Central Tribune