A lost cat has been reunited with his family, the Birds, after seven years, thanks to the power of his microchip.
CapeTalk’s Pippa Hudson spoke with Mandy Store, Operations Manager at TEARS Animal Rescue, about the touching story of a cat who found his way back to his family after seven years, all thanks to his microchip.
Last week, a Cape Town family experienced an emotional reunion with their long-lost cat, Padfoot, who returned home after an incredible seven-year journey.
Padfoot’s journey back to the Birds’ home began in 2009 when he was a tiny, malnourished kitten roaming the streets of Dubai. His life changed forever when Kira, Cathy Bird’s youngest daughter, found him next to a dirt truck and brought him home.
Soon after, Padfoot became a beloved member of the Bird family. When the family relocated to South Africa, Padfoot made the trip with them.
However, three years later, the family got a new puppy. As the puppy grew, Padfoot seemed increasingly uncomfortable with it, until one day he ran away.
The family spent the next seven years grieving Padfoot’s disappearance, unaware that he had settled into a new life just 50 meters from their home at a nearby caravan park.
Padfoot survived by roaming the caravan park, where residents like Sandra Brice van Eyk and others ensured he was fed. He lived a semi-wild life until residents noticed a patch of missing fur on his nose, sparking concern for his health.
Sandra reached out to TEARS Community Cat Project for help, leading to an effort to check on Padfoot. However, Padfoot didn’t take kindly to being placed in a box, so TEARS had to sedate him and bring him to their center for a check-up.
It was there that veterinarians discovered Padfoot’s international microchip, which set the process in motion for his reunion with his family.
Photos of Padfoot were shared across various animal groups and community pages to help track down his original family. Tara Bird, Kira’s sister, saw the post and reached out to TEARS with the microchip number to confirm if it was Padfoot.
For the Birds, having Padfoot back at 16 years old felt like regaining a lost family member, especially as her husband had passed away during that time.
The family could not have been more delighted with the reunion.
Now, Padfoot is adjusting to life back at home.
“It took him a few days to acclimate to a home environment after living outside among the grass and trees,” said TEARS. “We’ve been helping the family keep him indoors for now to prevent him from running back to the caravan park. He’s a bit frustrated, but he’s eating well and receiving lots of love and cuddles. For now, he’s doing great.”
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