08/17/2023
Don't Make This Assumption When You Find a Cat
When a handsome black cat showed up at Angela's house, she was happy to put out food. She noticed the ear tip and assumed she was a community cat who had been TNR'd at some point. Friendly, she soon weaseled her way into Angela's heart. And then she conned her way inside too. Soon, she was a member of the family.
Fast forward 6 months and Midnight was off to the veterinarian for vaccines and a checkup. Her veterinarian recommended microchipping the new family member. But as she scanned the cat before microchip insertion, she found that this cat was already microchipped! A quick call to the microchip company told them that Midnight was actually Lucy. Her grateful owners explained that she had been lost when a cat carrier failed during a move to a new home. They had been actively searching for her for six months!
In communities with many homeless cats, it is easy to assume that the stray cat on your porch is unwanted. According to the Humane Society of the United States there are an estimated 30 to 40 million community cats in the United States. The good news is that 10 to 12% of Americans provide food and water to community cats. Yep, there are cat lovers everywhere. But this presents a problem for lost cats. When lost cats ask for a meal on a porch or at a feral feeding station, they are rarely scanned for a microchip. It is so easy to assume they are homeless.
Microchips are lifesavers, but only if somebody scans for a microchip. If you are a feeding strays, it is easy to assume that the newcomer is homeless. Most of them are but take the time to scan for a microchip anyway. In the sea of homeless cats, there are some Lucys and you can help to get one home!