Georgia Man Finds His Missing Cat During Live TV Interview After Devastating Flood Sweeps Away His Home

A Georgia man who feared he had lost all seven of his beloved cats in devastating flash floods received an emotional surprise during a television interview when his final missing pet suddenly turned up.

Billy Paschall, a resident of McCaysville, Georgia, had been desperately searching for his cats after record-breaking floodwaters swept through the town, inundating homes and leaving residents struggling to recover.

The flooding struck the area near the Georgia-Tennessee border after powerful overnight thunderstorms dumped between eight and 10 inches of rain across the region.

The Toccoa River rose to approximately 18 feet, reaching two feet above the level considered catastrophic. In parts of downtown McCaysville, floodwaters climbed as high as six to seven feet.

Paschall’s home was among those badly damaged. He estimated that water had risen nearly five feet inside the property, leaving rooms filled with mud and debris.

But beyond the destruction of his home and belongings, he was terrified that his seven cats had disappeared.

He spent hours trapped as floodwaters surrounded his home

During the flooding, Paschall found himself trapped on his porch as water continued rising around the property.

He recalled that his cats were frightened and hiding on top of their small cat houses as the floodwaters approached.

After calling for help, he was eventually rescued by police officers using a boat. The officers also helped get his cats to safety.

However, not all of the animals could immediately be accounted for. Two were being cared for by a neighbor, while several others had disappeared during the chaos.

In an earlier interview with CBS News Atlanta, Paschall spoke emotionally about his missing three-year-old yellow cat, Cricket.

“She’s my little girl,” he said.

He also described praying for the missing animal while dealing with the loss of his home and three vehicles.

A television interview delivers an unexpected reunion

Days later, Paschall was speaking with CBS News Atlanta about the devastating damage when the story took an unexpectedly happy turn.

The reporter had previously connected him by phone with meteorologist Orelon Sidney, who offered advice on encouraging the missing cats to return.

She suggested placing their litter box outside, hoping its familiar scent would help guide them home.

Paschall followed the advice.

Then, while CBS News Atlanta was interviewing him on November 10, his seventh and final missing cat, named Bounce, was found.

The emotional reunion brought an enormous sense of relief after days of uncertainty.

“It’s a relief,” Paschall said.

He credited Sidney’s suggestion with helping him get his pet back.

Flood survivors face a long road to recovery

Although the reunion brought a rare moment of happiness, McCaysville continued to face the enormous consequences of the flooding.

Emergency crews had evaluated approximately 875 structures in Fannin County, with more properties still waiting to be inspected.

Some homes were completely swept away, vehicles remained submerged in creeks, and businesses suffered extensive damage.

The town’s water system had also been disrupted, prompting officials to maintain a boil-water advisory while residents waited for conditions to improve.

Paschall still needed somewhere permanent to live and was considering asking the Humane Society for help finding homes for his cats.

After losing so much in the disaster, he said he felt more hopeful than he had just days earlier.

For a man whose home and belongings were devastated by floodwaters, finding all seven cats again was a small but deeply meaningful victory — and an emotional moment that unfolded in front of television cameras.