After her cat wandered off and didnB次元官网网址檛 return, a Surrey animal lover not only hired a pet detective to track down the errant feline, but spent several days camping outside, and was prepared to fight off the neighbourhood coyotes, if necessary.

Lisa van Vliet told Peace Arch B次元官网网址 Monday that Bear, her three-year-old black cat, didnB次元官网网址檛 return home on May 26.

Van Vliet began searching for the lost cat by contacting locals through the neighbourhood Block Watch program.

The first two nights after Bear went missing, van Vliet said she slept in her backyard, just in case she could hear a commotion between the cat and the coyotes.

B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 just so little and innocent we thought he was done for, because we see coyotes across the street in the middle of the day,B次元官网网址� said van Vliet, who lives near 145 Street near 33 Avenue.

B次元官网网址淎t least if I was there, I could hear it and protect him,B次元官网网址� she said.

With no luck after two days, van Vliet contacted Petsearchers Canada, who arrived with two trackers and a bloodhound.

The bloodhound sniffed the catB次元官网网址檚 harness, and tracked the scent to an overgrown lot north of 32 Avenue near 144 Street.

The trackers set a number of traps in the lot, and a thermal camera to track the catB次元官网网址檚 movement.

Van Vliet committed herself to staying in the lot B次元官网网址� with nothing more than a couple of blankets, a chair and cat food B次元官网网址� every night until her pet was eventually trapped on June 2.

B次元官网网址淗ow do you decide to go to bed? B次元官网网址極K, now IB次元官网网址檓 tired enough to let my cat get eaten. ItB次元官网网址檚 5 p.m., I think dinner time is in order,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� she said.

Van Vliet said she was traumatized after losing another cat eight years ago. She never got closure, and said itB次元官网网址檚 not something she wanted to experience again.

B次元官网网址淔or five years, youB次元官网网址檙e driving around and you see a black shadow near the grass. B次元官网网址極h, is that him? Is that him?B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

Bear is recovering after seven days in the wild. Van Vliet said he sustained a sunburn, a couple scrapes and a puncture wound on his neck.

Aside from being a little spooked, though, the little black cat will be just fine.