![Missing black squash-face cat Ootie. A reward is being offered for his safe return. Missing black squash-face cat Ootie. A reward is being offered for his safe return.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/4MhkJ8SfhCqb4cUfcgRRmJ/6d37e1ad-1c64-4bd9-9440-384d1c11cb53.png/r0_0_605_606_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
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Social media has played an important part in reuniting lost squashed-faced cat Ootie with his distraught Warrnambool owner Cyndi Shaw.
Coverage through Warrnambool Pets Lost and Found on Facebook and a story in The Standard highlighted the issue.
Ms Shaw said a friend contacted her and suggested the black short-haired Persian that went missing last week had been located.
"They sent a photo and a friend rang me," she said.
"It was him. I had tears running down my face. The lady that had Ootie wouldn't take any money."
Ms Shaw had offered a $3000 reward, but she said the rescuer "wouldn't even take a couple of hundred dollars".
"She's a cat mum as well so she understood," she said.
"I would have given anything to get him back. The reward now is that I'm giving up smoking.
"He only went out when I opened the door to have a smoke and I won't be doing that again.
"He was three blocks away. He's very hungry. It's just all a bit weird because he never goes far."
Ms Shaw said her cat had not eaten very well since he'd been home.
"He obviously hadn't been eating. I had a message from another bloke who saw him," she said.
"He was my son's cat. We're all a bit overwhelmed.
"Ootie has breathing difficulties and needs medication. But, he was 'meow, meow, meow' when he got home. He's very happy.
"It's great to see that lost pets can be found and everyone can now know Ootie has been found and gone home."
On Wednesday: Warrnambool resident Cyndi Shaw is offering a reward of up to $3000 for the safe return of her black squash-face cat Ootie.
The short-haired Persian is very distinctive as he lives with his tongue out.
The cat is believed to have been taken from his home's driveway in central Warrnambool mid last week.
Ms Shaw is distraught.
She said her cat needed weekly medication and he sneezes uncontrollably.
"So as cute as he is, please return him," she requested.
"He's been gone six days and needs weekly medication for his sneezing."
Ms Shaw lives just west of Emmanuel College and is offering up to a $3000 reward for the safe return of Ootie.
"I can't eat, sleep or work with thoughts of my baby being used for dog baiting or something equally as terrifying," she said.
"I really want to offer my entire savings, my car, my arms and legs, I don't think anyone can love him more than me, honestly."
Ms Shaw can be contacted on 0474 632 303.
In January a Melbourne family offered a $2000 reward after their seven-year-old tri-coloured Australian shepherd Odi went missing in Port Fairy after being spooked by fireworks.