Detectives get Teddy home

Story highlights importance of microchips

VETERAN moggie Teddy was returned home safe and well after a three-day walkabout thanks to his microchip and the persistence of dedicated animal lovers.

Aged around 25, he has probably used most of his nine lives but went on a last great adventure before settling down to retirement on the Costa Blanca.

Liz Trafford, president of Jávea Feral Cat Association, was able to reunite Teddy and his grateful owner Fran Sealeas who had just moved to Gata de Gorgos days before the cat went missing.

“One evening last week, I saw a post on Facebook about a poorly-looking cat that had wandered into the garden of Alvyda Jankute in Gata; there was a photo of the cat and, along with other people, I commented that the cat did not look good and should see a vet,” she said.

“Alvyda was not able to take the cat in so I offered to take him if she brought it to me in Jávea, which she did that evening. The cat was in a poor state; very skinny with sunken eyes and a dirty, matted coat. I set in him up in a nice soft bed and gave him some food and water, after which he promptly fell asleep.”

Liz said she took the cat to her association’s vet Rosa the next morning. “I lifted out of the basket for the vet to examine him and mentally said a little prayer as I fully expected that this would be his final journey.”

However, when Teddy was checked for a microchip – standard practice for strays – the machine went ‘beep’ as they looked at each other in disbelief.

The telephone number recorded on the database was unobtainable but Petlog was able to give the number of the UK vet that had chipped the cat.

Information

“I rang the vet in the UK and they gave me what little information they had; Teddy was very old and his owner’s name was Fran Sealeas and she had moved to Spain – but they had no forwarding address or other details.”

Liz said she could find no trace of Fran on social media and put in a call for help from Alvyda, who had found Teddy.

“She eventually found Fran and gave her my telephone number. When she rang she confirmed that her cat was called Teddy and that he was in fact about 25 years old! He was seven when she got him from a rescue centre in 2000,” Liz continued.

“It transpired that Fran had moved to the property in Gata and Teddy had wandered off and been missing for three days.

“I asked my friend Leigh Patterson, who lives in Gata, to transport him back to his owner, which she did the same day, and Teddy and his delighted owner were re-united.

“Like many others who move here from another town or country, Fran had been busy with the move and had not yet thought to update Teddy’s microchip details.”

Teddy was none the worse for his travels. He remains a bit deaf with a touch of dementia and is now safe and happy back at his new home.

Liz said the ending could have been very different had he not been chipped. “This story had a happy ending but just highlights not only the importance of microchipping your pet but also to update the details if there is a change in circumstances.”