11/07/2024
"If Someone Owns This Cat They Don't Deserve to Get Her Back!"
When this handsome senior cat was posted on social media, the finder didn't mince words. "This cat has been trying to get in my house for the past week. Some low life person abandoned this cat and she needs a good home. She is starving and flea infested. Please help!"
Right away, someone offered to adopt the poor cat and commented that they had sent the finder a message. Soon after, another reader suggested that the cat be checked for a microchip. The finder was furious at the suggestion. "I don't care if she is microchipped, I will NOT allow this cat to go back to her owner. A neighbor told me she was left behind when the people moved. They don't deserve her back!"
It is easy to judge when you see an animal in poor condition, but it is important to keep an open mind when you see an animal who appears unkempt. Abandoned cats can look rough and we want people to notice them and help them. But before you jump to conclusions about their appearance, connect with neighbors and see if anyone knows the owner or has a background story on the animal. And ALWAYS scan for a microchip.
Why would you check for a microchip on an animal that appears neglected?
-The cat may be a beloved pet that is lost and living on their own. Lost cats often look neglected because they have lost their food source.
-The cat may have been adopted out by a rescue who cares deeply for the cat and will take them back.
-If you rehome a cat without checking for a microchip, the new owner won't know that they need to register a microchip. If she is lost again, there will be no way to get her back to her new owner. A rescuer will only be able to return her to the registered owner or shelter.
Kitty "Ethel" lucked out when the person offering to adopt her took her to her vet for an exam and flea treatment. The vet scanned her for a microchip and contacted her grateful owner June. Ethel wasn't a neglected cat at all, she was a much loved 17-year-old who had been missing for 4 months. She was lost when her elderly owner was moving to a senior apartment in a nearby town. The movers assisting her propped the door open instead of closing it as they went in and out, so Ethel took the opportunity to step outside. Then, seeing the strangers come towards the door with a hand truck, she bolted into a neighbor's yard. June desperately wanted her back, but with mobility issues and no access to a car, she could only contact her old neighbors, the shelter and the microchip company.
All cats should be scanned for microchips regardless of their age, condition or adoptability. It is easy to jump to conclusions because there are so many homeless and abandoned cats, but don't let your inferences about the owner stop you from doing what is right.
