One cat figured out the window. The rest just followed.
At Whimsical Whiskers CatFae & Rescue in Uniontown, Ohio, a screen in owner Heidi Wiegel’s office was accidentally left open. One cat clawed through it. Eighteen others slipped out behind. Three have been found. Sixteen are still missing.
How It Happened
The window in Wiegel’s office was left open, and one cat did what cats do: it found the gap and pushed through. The others followed without hesitation.
Wiegel did not sugarcoat it. She called it “a rescue’s worst nightmare, if not pretty close.”
The cats at Whimsical Whiskers come through Whisper in Time Companion Re-homing, a nonprofit that places animals from people who have died or moved into care facilities. These are not random strays. They are cats with histories, placed into a rescue that was specifically trying to find them new homes.
What the Search Looks Like Now
Volunteers are setting traps baited with tuna or sardines on properties where the cats have been spotted, with permission from homeowners. One volunteer, Michelle Ketler, is watching the traps overnight.
Wiegel has also put out a request for donated drone services to help cover more ground after dark.
The challenge with a search like this is the same every time. Cats that have escaped a familiar space do not come running when called. They go still, hide, and wait. The same instinct that makes cats hard to find after trauma is exactly why trapping works better than searching on foot.
The ASPCA reports that 3 million cats entered U.S. shelters and rescues in 2025, and a large portion of that number represents animals that got out before anyone could stop them. An open window at a rescue is a different kind of loss, but the outcome is the same: cats on the outside that were never meant to be there.
Sixteen cats remain unaccounted for as of the most recent update, and the search is ongoing. Wiegel says she plans to install custom-made grills on all the windows to prevent it from happening again.
Community searches for escaped cats have worked before. A week-long effort brought a missing kitten home after a community search in Brooklyn, and cats that survive difficult situations are often found days or weeks later than anyone expected. Traps, patience, and neighbors paying attention are usually what close the gap.
If you are in or near Uniontown, Ohio, and spot any of the missing cats, Whimsical Whiskers CatFae & Rescue can be reached through whimwhiskerscatfae.com.
Conclusion
Have you ever dealt with a cat escape from a rescue or your own home? Drop what happened and how you handled it in the comments below.
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This article is for informational purposes only.