Only 6% of stray cats coming to RSPCA SA in the last 12 months were microchipped.
A much-loved Burmese cat who ran away from home over a year ago has been reunited with her family, thanks to their foresight to update her microchip details when she first joined the household almost seven years ago.
Gracie fled her home in Flagstaff Hill after finding life too difficult with two new felines who had joined the household. Despite searching the neighbourhood, putting up flyers and contacting rescue organisations and local vets, her owners were unable to locate her and eventually had to give up their search.
"We got her from a police officer working in the Northern Territory, who was relocating and unable to keep her," Gracie's owner John explained.
"She was about a year old when they flew her down and everything was going well until these two new cats joined us, and it just freaked her out."
The cat was sighted in the O'Halloran Hill area and photos of her on the run were posted on Lost Pets of SA, in an attempt to locate her owner. Lucky Little Paws Rescue and Adoptions tried to trap her over several weeks last October, but she remained elusive.
Then, in mid-April, RSPCA South Australia received reports of an exotic breed cat that was lingering around the facilities of Riding for the Disabled on Majors Rd at O'Halloran Hill, less than a kilometre from RSPCA's Animal Care Centre. A trap was set and checked over a period of ten days until finally, on Wednesday, Gracie entered the trap and was caught.
An examination by RSPCA SA's vet team found the affectionate feline to be in overall good health, apart from slight dehydration. According to John, the missing moggie had always been good at catching mice.
"She also made friends with some former workmates of mine from Acciona who are doing roadworks for the new Majors Road interchange," John said.
"When my son Enzo saw a photo of Gracie on Lost Pets of SA, I contacted one of them and he sent me a photo of her and told me she was getting into the lunchrooms and getting fed at night and hanging around the compound.
"My mate told me that he had been working on the site for about 14 months and that she was pretty much there the whole time."
Back home, Gracie still has the two other cats to live with. RSPCA SA's cat behaviour team is providing guidance to help establish harmony between the three feline family members. Last report from John is that their adventurous pet is happy to be back and is sleeping a lot.
RSPCA SA is reminding cat owners that it is a legal requirement under the Dog and Cat Management Act to microchip and desex their cats.
In the 12 months to the end of April this year, just 6% of the 1403 stray cats brought to RSPCA SA were microchipped. In that same period, of the 711 stray dogs coming to RSPCA SA, 57% were microchipped.
Information about microchipping cats and dogs can be found here:
Advice on introducing a new cat to existing cats in the home can be found here:
How should I introduce a new cat or kitten to my existing cat?
