When a pet goes missing, it’s always distressing. You seek as long as you can, but you begin to believe you’ll never see your friend again.
But it’s crucial not to give up completely. Occasionally, miracles occur, and dogs and cats are found months or even years after they have gone missing.
That was the case for one couple who, after a decade apart, finally reconnected with their long-lost cat.
According to the BBC, Colin Clayton and Eva Bellamy from Birmingham, England, went on their honeymoon in 2011 with their three pet cats.
The couple and their dogs took the narrowboat canal barge they lived on 25 miles away on a journey that was nothing out of the norm for them. The cats were accustomed to jumping on and off the boat and were always aware of how to return home if they became separated.
However, Big Ginge, the three-year-old cat, went missing during their journey, casting a damper on the honeymoon and leaving the owners worried ill.
“The others returned to normal, but Big Ginge did not,” Colin told Sky News. “So we remained an extra five days and walked for kilometers throughout the region screaming out his name and hanging up posters.”
“We put a missing person alert on his microchip, but we had to leave.”
Years passed, and Big Ginge appeared to have vanished forever. However, a miracle occurred lately, ten years after the cat went missing.
An orange stray cat known as “Marmalade” began arriving outside a residence earlier this year. Cats Protection, a cat welfare organization, got interested in transporting the stray to safety in the hopes of locating its owner.
Sue Hocknell of Cats Protection told Sky News, “I spent three weeks every evening attempting to capture him so I could scan for a microchip but he was having none of it.”
The cat eventually gained access to the house, allowing the gang to take “Marmalade” in. Sue brought the cat to the vet, who read its microchip and determined the owner’s name.
“Marmalade” turned out to be Big Ginge, who was still alive and well after ten years.
The owners were taken aback when they learned that their cat had been discovered. After a ten-year separation, they reunited with Big Ginge.
The cat’s leg had a bump, but it turned out to be nothing significant. It’s unclear what he’s been doing for the past few years.
Big Ginge has settled into his former home after all this time, and the reunited family is making up for lost time by ensuring this ancient cat has a tranquil and happy existence.
“For the time being, we’ll keep him inside,” Colin explained. “He appears to be quite satisfied and has showed no desire to venture forth.”
“Big Ginge has had his fill of stress in his life, and we are optimistic that everything will work out.”
We’re overjoyed that Big Ginge has returned after all these years! It’s a gentle reminder to get your dogs microchipped – it’s the only way to assure that your lost pets find their way back to you, even if they’ve been missing for a decade.
