Missing Cat Found 1,000 Miles From Home

A missing cat was found 1,000 miles from his home. Cree Cantrell said Jacque went missing two years ago and he never expected to see his beloved pet again. Last week, the Mississippi man received a phone call from a veterinarian clinic in Denver, Colorado. He learned that his cat was found alive and well nearly 1,000 miles away.

Cattrell and his cat were living on a houseboat in Biloxi. While the man was at work one day, Jacque mysteriously disappeared. The distraught man assumed his cat fell into the water or was taken by a tourist.

Nobody understands how, but the cat eventually ended up in Colorado. The veterinarian was able to identify the cat by reading a microchip embedded in Jasque’s ear. The tiny device is credited for the long-awaited reunion.

As reported by WLOX News, Cattrell was stunned that someone found his missing cat:

“I’m like, ‘What do you mean you found Jacque… this has been two years now.’ I didn’t really know what she was talking about, but she explained to me that he was in Colorado. I couldn’t believe it. How’s a cat get up there?”

Officials with the Humane Society of South Mississippi said Cattrell’s story highlights the importance of microchipping pets. Community Engagement Manager Shelli Skiado said pets with microchips have a 50 percent better chance of being reunited with their family.

An organization called Lost Cats Found was created to share inspirational stories similar to Cattrell’s. The website encourages pet owners to post stories about missing cats who were later found. A number of the cats featured on the site were found under unusual circumstances.

One of the stories features a cat that was found 11 years after she vanished. Chloe Hill was six years old when her cat Salem disappeared. Although the family searched the neighborhood for weeks, they eventually lost hope. Eleven years later, on Christmas Eve, Chloe got a call from an animal rescue organization. Like Jacques, Salem also had a microchip in her ear. The now 17-year-old Chloe said finding her cat was a wonderful Christmas surprise.

Losing a cat can be heartbreaking. However, microchips can dramatically increase the chances of reuniting a missing cat with their family.

[Image via Shutterstock]