South Carolina Senior Cat Finds His Way Home After 4 Years Missing
Linda Burton of Bluffton, South Carolina got the best surprise recently when she received a text from the Hilton Head Humane Association saying they had found her beloved cat, Oliver.
Oliver had been missing for about four years and Burton truly thought she would never see her fur baby again.
WJCL.com reports that 14-year-old Oliver went missing when his owner was sick with Covid, "But back in April of 2020, Burton was hospitalized with COVID.
"I was sick in the hospital and I came home after four days, and Oliver was missing," Burton said.
Burton intensely searched for Oliver, but after months and months went by she eventually gave up hope, worried that something like an alligator might have found Oliver first.
Related: Lost Long Island Cat Returns Home in Hilarious and Unexpected Way
Now that Oliver is home he has been following his owner around like a little shadow.
Linda Burton was quoted as saying, "Please microchip your pets because there’s no way I would have gotten reunited with Oliver if he wasn’t microchipped and it’s just a small thing that you have to do and it can make such a big difference."
What an absolutely wonderful reunion for these two, and such an important lesson in microchipping!
What To Do If You Lose Your Cat
Losing your cat can be such a scary experience, and according to the ASPCA, 85 percent of lost dogs and cats are eventually recovered, but cat guardians were less likely to find their cat – only 74 percent of lost cats were recovered.
This is why one very important thing you can do is have your cat microchipped like in the above story, so that if they are lost and they end brought to a vet it can be determined that you are the actual owner. Make sure you update the microchip information, there are several national and international databases that maintain microchip records, such as the American Animal Hospital Association, HomeAgain, and PetLink. Make sure your cat always wears a collar with your name and contact information on it. It's also a good idea to take current photographs of your cat in case they do go missing, and photographs of you with your cat in case you need further proof of ownership.
If your cat has a keen nose, they might be able to sniff their way back to you. Take something that smells like you, such as a worn shirt, a blanket, a toy, or a crate. Leave the items where you last saw your cat. Some cat owners also suggest leaving their litter box in your yard on on your stoop because your cat will be able to recognize their scent and find their way home. Other people say that this only will attract other cats to your cat's litter box, and may hinder your own cat from returning home.
Contact friends and family immediately, the non-emergency number of your local police department, as well as your veterinarian, your local Humane Society and Animal Shelters, and make postings on social media lost and found groups for your area.
Create flyers with your contact information plus a current photo of your pet and distribute them to local businesses and neighbors.
Hopefully your cat will be at home with you safe and sound in no time!
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