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ATTLEBORO - The mystery of Bevis the wandering three-legged cat has been solved.

The tri-colored long-haired feline, who mysteriously showed up at the home of his former owner last month minus a leg after being gone for almost a year, has been found living a happy active, tri-pod life in an East Street home.

The 13-year-old kitty, who abandoned the home of Chris Challis on nearby Cummings Street when Challis acquired two dogs to go with her three cats, now lives with Muriel Reilly and her boyfriend, Steve Hallenbeck. And Bevis's name is no longer Bevis, it's Chloe.

While there remains some question about the former gender of the long-altered cat, there's no question it's the same one who disappeared from Challis' home seemingly for good after trying unsuccessfully to live with the two dogs that Challis adopted in 2006, both women said.

Reilly, who has one other adopted cat named Smidge, said Chloe showed up around November of 2006, which was around the time Challis got the second of her two pooches. "She had a big scab on her head and she wouldn't let us touch her," Reilly said. "She wasn't a happy cat at first."

But the wound healed and Reilly, whose home is a gathering place for other cats in the neighborhood and who seem to come and go as if they live there, said it wasn't long before she knew Chloe would be staying.

Where Chloe came from was just as much of a mystery for Reilly as where Bevis went was for Challis, but Chloe was welcomed and loved and things went well for about a year.

But late last year Chloe developed a tumor on her right rear paw. Chloe's vet removed the tumor, but when it came back the doctor had to remove the whole leg, Reilly said.

That operation took place on Dec. 10.

Total cost of the care for Chloe was about $3,200.

A week later, Reilly herself was stricken with a serious illness and spent six weeks in the hospital and rehabilitation. Chloe began her wandering ways during that time.

One day in January, while Reilly was in a rehabilitation facility recovering from surgery, she opened a copy of The Sun Chronicle and was stunned to see a photo of Chloe/Bevis on the front page.

The photo was submitted by Challis in hopes of finding Bevis's new owner.

Reilly theorized her long absence from home prompted Chloe to hit the road. "I think she was missing me, so she went back to something familiar," Reilly said.

In the meantime, Chloe wandered again after the article appeared and again showed up at Challis' home. This time, Challis attached a note to her collar asking the new owner to call.

Reilly was still in the hospital, but Hallenbeck gave her a call and the mystery was solved.

"At first I thought it was one of my friends playing a joke on me," he said.

But all's well that ends well.

Challis said she's thrilled Bevis/Chloe has such a good home.

"I think it's a wonderful end to the story," she said. "I'm so thrilled they took him (or her) in and he's (or she's) happy. He (or she) ended up on the right doorstep."

Reilly said when the weather is better she'd like to meet Chloe's former owner.

"When it's a little warmer we'll take a walk over and introduce ourselves," she said.

GEORGE W. RHODES can be reached at 508-236-0432 or at grhodes@thesunchronicle.com.