What’s better than microchip reunions? Thanks to the ongoing efforts of rescuers and up-to-date contact information stored on a chip, cats go home to emotional reunions with their overjoyed families. It’s one of the regular but overlooked benefits of TNR (trap, neuter, return) efforts nationwide. If everyone microchipped their pet, there would be many more such reunions to celebrate.
Recently, Blue the Cat went missing for 3 months. He was loose in the suburbs of Los Angeles, and a million things could have gone wrong. His humans were worried that Blue had become a victim of a coyote.
Fortunately, a probably starving Blue ended up walking into the best kind of trap: a TNR trap in La Puente.
A Pawsome Microchip Reunion for Blue
“Last week, a microchipped cat came to FixNation in a trap. We contacted his human and learned that her adorable kitty had been missing for 3 months!” FixNation shared. “She was certain that coyotes had gotten him and was thrilled to hear that her furry friend was alive and well. His name is Blue, and he was found in La Puente by trappers Debbie McMahon and Yolanda Sierra.”
Blue the cat’s microchip reunion thanks to FixNation. Images via Facebook/FixNation.
Thanks to the rescuers and that microchip, Blue came home immediately. We bet the family is careful to keep him indoors from now on!
“They reunited Blue with his pet parent that very day. We’d have more stories like this if every pet cat was microchipped!” they said.
Another ‘Lucky’ Microchip Reunion
Blue was one lucky cat! Likewise, the rescue shared another microchip reunion almost exactly a year ago. This time, the cat’s name was aptly-named Lucky, and he had been missing since New Year’s Eve.
But on March 10, Lucky went home to his overjoyed mom, Kristina.
“Today was this cat’s lucky day! Jody from Cats Inc brought in a friendly kitty this morning that had wandered into her neighbor’s yard. We scanned for a microchip and were thrilled to get a call back from his overjoyed paw parent, Kristina. The aptly named Lucky had been missing since New Year’s Eve, and Kristina couldn’t believe he was okay after all this time.”
Kristina and Lucky
Kristina got the welcome news at an unexpected moment.
“To top it all off, Kristina got the good news while she was at the hospital, where her best friend was in labor! How’s that for a memorable day?! We love reunion stories and encourage everyone to microchip their pets. Welcome home, Lucky!”
Please Accept Cookies – the Cat
The rescuers shared a dramatic microchip reunion when Cookies the Cat came to their clinic in 2020. Like Blue, he was caught by TNR rescuers and was scanned for a chip as part of the normal care routine.
“RVT Heather Smith gives our giant furry guest a cuddle before he is reunited with his family.”
As it turned out, Cookies had been missing since he was a kitten, but he survived for 8 years. Judging by his weight and friendly behavior, someone had been caring for him as a “pampered pet” all that time.
“Amazing microchip reunion! Cookies came to our clinic in a trap last month. Weighing in at nearly 18 lbs, he was tame and had a microchip, so we contacted his humans. Turns out this kitty went missing as a kitten 8 years ago! He has since been reunited with his family.”
Sometimes TNR Includes Microchips
Rescuers practicing TNR frequently vaccinate cats, dubbed Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (TNVR). But they may also microchip cats to ensure they can be returned to their feral colonies if picked up by animal control. However, it does make it more expensive, and rescuers are often overwhelmed trying to help as many cats as possible.
Alley Cat Allies suggests three basic steps to save cats with microchips:
- Get cats microchipped during a veterinary visit, low-cost microchipping clinic or Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) initiative.
- Register the microchip with the microchip company’s database and/or with a free database such as Found Animals Registry.
- Keep your registered contact information updated, especially if you move or your phone number changes.
The last step is critical and easy to overlook in a move. Sometimes, reunions happen after people have traveled across the globe, but without the current information, it’s unlikely.
