Lost And Injured Valentine’s Day Cat Reunited With Owner In Amazing Love Story

A cat found injured and alone on Saint Valentine’s Day has been reunited with his owner after they spent four and a half months apart, with RSPCA Cymru helping to deliver an amazing South Wales love story. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The cat, who it was later discovered is called Shadow, was reported to the RSPCA on Valentine’s Day, after he was seen staggering, in the Chepstow Road area of Newport. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Shadow had an injured left hind and an old wound on his chest, but veterinary inspection revealed that fortunately this was not a severe problem. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

When RSPCA Cymru collected the cat, it was found to be microchipped – but the details on the chip were not up-to-date. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

However, the RSPCA worked to locate the owner’s new details, and – thankfully – ensured Shadow was reunited with his owner. It was discovered they had been apart for a staggering four and a half months. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Christine McNeil, the RSPCA inspector who ensured the pair were reunited, said: “This was a fantastic Valentine’s Day love story. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“When I collected Shadow, he was alone, injured and with an out-of-date microchip. Thankfully, we were able to track down the owner’s new details and ensure Shadow was reunited with his family. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The work of an RSPCA inspector is often tough, so it is so nice to be involved in a happy and rewarding ending like this. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It’s a story which highlights the importance of permanently identifying pets, and keeping microchip details up-to-date, even after a pet may have gone missing.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Gillian Baldwin, owner of Shadow, said: “I missed him Shadow so much – but I always knew in my heart that we’d be back together again. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Shadow has settled back in brilliantly. It’s like he’s never been away. He was so happy to be back home – he wouldn’t leave me alone! It’s just so nice to have him home.“ ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The RSPCA has information, and advice, about the benefits of getting a pet microchipped. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

RSPCA Cymru and Cats Protection also run, in partnership, a cat neutering and microchipping project in Wales, where eligible owners can get their pet cat neutered and microchipped for only £5. Detailed information on whether you can apply, and participating vets, can be found here. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​