A Family Feared Their Cat Was Lost Forever. Then She Rang the Doorbell. You never know who's going to buzz your Ring in the middle of the night.

By Jonathan Small

When the Whitley family moved to a new neighborhood in Mastic Beach, New York, they had one big concern: Would their cat 8-year-old cat Lily adjust?

"I was really nervous about bringing her to a new area with how she would react," Stephanie Whitley told local news station PIX-11.

Then her worst fears came true. Lily went missing.

Usually, the little grey outdoor kitty came home at the end of the day, but when she didn't return for four days, "I didn't think that Lily was coming home," Whitley said.

Just when they had given up hope of seeing Lily again, the Whitleys were awoken by their Ring in the middle of the night. At first, they were startled to get a surprise visitor that late. But when they looked at the front door video feed on their Alexa device, concern turned to joy.

It was Lily.

In the video, Lilly puts her paws on the camera and meows a few times, alerting her family that she's home.

"We all gasped. We were laughing. We were emotional. We were crying. It was a great moment," Whitley said.

A voice on the video says, "Oh My God, did you get a recording of that?"

Yes. Lily made sure of it.

Jonathan Small

Entrepreneur Staff

Founder, Strike Fire Productions

Jonathan Small is a bestselling author, journalist, producer, and podcast host. For 25 years, he has worked as a sought-after storyteller for top media companies such as The New York Times, Hearst, Entrepreneur, and Condé Nast. He has held executive roles at Glamour, Fitness, and Entrepreneur and regularly contributes to The New York Times, TV Guide, Cosmo, Details, Maxim, and Good Housekeeping. He is the former “Jake” advice columnist for Glamour magazine and the “Guy Guru” at Cosmo.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Innovation

4 Ways Market Leaders Use Innovation to Foster Business Growth

Forward-thinkers constantly strive to diversify and streamline their products and services, turning novelties into commodities desired by many.

Business News

JPMorgan Shuts Down Internal Message Board Comments After Employees React to Return-to-Office Mandate

Employees were given the option to leave comments about the RTO mandate with their first and last names on display — and they did not hold back.

Business Process

The Best Times, Days and Months To Post on YouTube (2023)

When is the best time to post YouTube videos to maximize their effect? Discover the best time to post on YouTube in this detailed guide.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Business News

Your Old Apple AirPods Can Soon Act as an Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid, According to the FDA

The new software is compatible with the Apple AirPods Pro and accessible through iOS — for free and now FDA-authorized.

Business Culture

What Every Business Leader Can Learn From Dutch Bros' People-First Culture

The coffee chain is turning employees into owners of the customer experience.