Family Searches for Beloved Cat After Neighbor Admits Trapping Her

Family Searches for Beloved Cat After Neighbor Admits Trapping Her

By: Russel Moneva
Russel Moneva has spent more than 15 years caring for dogs and actively volunteers in spay and neuter and street feeding programs in his community. Read more
| November 12, 2026

A Miami family is desperately searching for their beloved 7-year-old calico tabby cat, Kesha, after a neighbor reportedly admitted trapping her and leaving her miles away from home. What began as an ordinary day turned into a heartbreaking ordeal when the family realized their cherished companion had disappeared. Now, with flyers posted, daily searches underway, and authorities involved, they are holding on to hope that someone will recognize Kesha and help bring her home.

For Janet Gianne and her daughter, Kesha is much more than a family pet. She has been part of their happiest memories, appearing in holiday photographs and even joining childhood tea parties. Her disappearance has left the family struggling to sleep, eat, and carry on with their normal routines.

A Beloved Family Cat Suddenly Disappears

Kesha had spent years making herself comfortable around her family’s Miami home. Janet recalled how the cat enjoyed spending time near the fence, exploring familiar spots, and finding places to nap. Whenever Janet called her name, Kesha would usually come to her. That familiar routine made her sudden disappearance especially difficult to understand.

On Wednesday, October 14, Kesha was nowhere to be found. Her family began searching the neighborhood, hoping she had simply wandered somewhere nearby. Janet and her daughter printed missing cat flyers, shared Kesha’s information on social media, and continued looking for her every day. As time passed without a sighting, their worry grew.

Janet’s daughter described Kesha as someone who had always been there for her, comparing the cat to a sister and best friend. The loss of that daily companionship has been especially painful for the child.

A Neighbor’s Messages Reveal a Troubling Clue

The family’s search took an unexpected turn when a friend forwarded messages from a neighborhood WhatsApp conversation. A man using the name Pooh had been complaining about cats leaving waste around the condominium property.

The neighborhood had a population of community cats, something Local 10 News reporter and animal advocate JC Burch also observed while visiting the property. Janet maintained that Kesha was not responsible for the problem the man described.

In a video shared with neighbors, the man displayed a cat trap and announced that he had caught a cat. He also made comments indicating that the trapped animal would be taken away. Another message referred to an area near Interstate 95 and 62nd Street in Miami, suggesting that someone searching for the cat should look there.

For Janet, those messages provided a possible explanation for Kesha’s disappearance. Instead of waiting for another sighting, she decided to approach the neighbor directly.

A Mother Begs for Her Daughter’s Cat Back

Janet and her daughter went to the man’s residence, hoping he would explain what had happened and tell them where Kesha could be found. Janet pleaded with him to consider how deeply the disappearance was affecting her child.

According to Janet, the neighbor acknowledged trapping Kesha and transporting her to another location. She said he told her that the cat was gone and identified the area where he had taken her.

The family began searching near the location mentioned in the messages. They continued returning to the area, hoping Kesha might still be nearby or that someone had found her.

Local 10 News later approached the man for comment, but he declined to answer questions about Kesha. The news crew reported seeing a cat trap in the bed of his truck. Janet filed a report with the City of Miami police, and Miami-Dade Animal Services issued a citation in connection with the incident.

A Family Refuses to Give Up on Kesha

Despite the citation, the family’s most important concern remains Kesha’s whereabouts. They want to find their cat and bring her back to the home she has known for years. Janet described how the disappearance has affected her family’s everyday life. She said they had been crying frequently, struggling with sleep and meals, and finding it difficult to concentrate on ordinary responsibilities.

Her daughter has been especially upset, and Janet shared that the situation had even kept her from attending school on one occasion. The family continues searching because they have not received the answer they need most.

During the news report, JC Burch assured Janet that he would try to help find Kesha. She thanked him repeatedly, grateful that someone was taking their search seriously.

At the time of the report, Kesha had not been found. Janet and her daughter were still looking for their beloved calico tabby, hoping someone would recognize her distinctive coloring and help reunite their family.

This content was created with AI assistance and edited by the iHeartCats team.