RSPCA Milton Keynes & North Bucks highlight the importance of microchipping and neutering after a missing cat from Wolverton was reunited with its owner after 4 years apart.
Over the bank holiday weekend, RSPCA Milton Keynes & North Bucks received a call about a cat near McDonalds in Wolverton, who the public were concerned about. Two of their volunteers headed out to assess the situation and trap the cat as they were not in a particularly safe area. Within a few minutes, the cat went into the trap and illustrated signs of severe hunger.
At this point, the volunteers scanned for a microchip and managed to find one. They made a call to the owner, who shared that the cat had been missing for 4 years! The owner Samantha was absolutely over the moon and rushed over to the cattery to collect the cat, who was lovingly called Suki.
Suki was found literally a few streets away from where her owned lived. It's stories like these especially, that really do highlight the importance of microchipping. Without that microchip Suki would have likely never been reunited with her family. Microchipping is the best way to reunite pets with their owners if they go missing. With this to become law for cats from 13th June 2024, it is so important to book your cats and kittens in to be microchipped as soon as possible.
Also, because Suki was neutered - she hadn't spent the past 4 years producing kittens or creating a colony that could have had a serious consequences. She was microchipped, she was neutered, and she is now back where she belongs with her family.
This also highlights why keeping an eye out for cats in the community is a really positive thing to do, had it not been for a member of the public reporting Suki to RSPCA MK, she wouldn't have been reunited.
RSPCA MK are so pleased for this happy ending and have already had an update that Suki has settled back into home life really well, she's loving her cuddles and making up for lost time.
Comments from branch representative Emma Hargreaves on this issue:
"MK RSPCA cannot stress the importance of microchipping and neutering enough and do so because it makes such a difference to animals’ lives. It prevents a huge amount of pain and suffering. It does provide them with a better life. Local rescues are currently bursting at the seams and kitten season has only just begun. We are facing the toughest time in the animal welfare and rescue world than we have seen in years. Our volunteers are currently working around the clock to help as many animals as possibly can, with numbers increasing week on week, it’s devastating to see. The only ones who can help change the course of this is humans, we are the only ones with the power to stop this needless suffering. All of this starts with responsible pet ownership and ensuring animals are getting the basic care they need.
"If you are struggling to afford the cost of neutering or microchipping, have found yourself in an overwhelming situation or you just want some advice – please get in touch with us. We are not here to judge, we are here to help and we want to. You can contact us via phone on 01908 611179, email at branch@mkrspca.org.uk or via our website RSPCA Milton Keynes & North Bucks | Animal Rescue."
