Senior ‘Stray’ Cat Rescued—Shelter Shocked by What They Find on Microchip

A community has mobilized to help reunite an elderly stray cat with his owner who most likely believes their feline died a long time ago.

Jasper is 17 years old and was found as a stray in Leeds, England, with a microchip declaring he was dead—meaning it’s likely his owners assumed he had passed when he never came home.

However, thanks to the efforts of Cat Action Trust 1977 Leeds, a local rescue service that is run entirely by volunteers who care for the animals in their own homes, there’s hope he could be returned to his family.

Staff member Alice told Newsweek that Jasper was found and brought to a local veterinary service where he was spotted by a Cat Action Trust volunteer.

“We always offer to take in super senior cats, aged 12+, if they are not reunited with their owners by the vets,” Alice explained. “Because the sad truth is that older cats are often put to sleep if an owner does not come forward, and we cannot bear the thought of a precious life being lost in this way.”

When Jasper came into their care, they scanned his chip, and learned his name, his age—and that he was registered as deceased.

“We assume that he went missing and that his owners eventually gave up their search for him, presuming him dead,” Alice said.

And thus began a frantic search to reunite Jasper with his owners—and when a trip to the registered address proved fruitless, they took to the internet, sharing Jasper’s story on their Facebook page.

Posted on March 2, along with a photo of the old boy after being picked up, they wrote: “This senior boy was handed in as a stray at a vets. His microchip says he’s 17 and deceased.”

Explaining the owners were not contactable and are believed to have rehomed Jasper with a neighbor before moving abroad, they pleaded: “If you recognise him, please get in touch. We are doing all we can to find his owners. If no owner can be found, we will find him a nice warm retirement home.”

Animal lovers reacted in a big way, with the post racking up close to 700 likes and over 1,300 shares, as hundreds of commenters got in touch to spread the word and offer to help.

“Omg such a sweet old boy,” one Facebook user wrote. “I hope he finds his home again but at least for now he’s safe and warm.”

“Really hope he’s wanted back home. My boy is 18 this year I love him more than ever,” another wrote.

A third user offered: “He can come and live here on the farm and be loved and lay in the sun.”

Alice said they were “so grateful to everyone who has shared his story so far, but we need to keep going to get him home.”

“We go to great lengths to reunite lost and stray cats with their owners, including visiting the last registered address and sending a letter to the address. We share photos on social media and mobilize a network of lost and found Facebook groups to spread the word,” she said.

In the meantime, Jasper is settling right back into being a loved pet at a volunteer’s home after his time on the streets, with Alice praising his “lovely temperament.”

“He is enjoying all of the home comforts in his temporary foster home at present, and likes strokes and fuss,” she added.

Should they find Jasper’s original owner, they will have to provide some proof of ownership, from photos of him at different ages or vet records for him.

The rescue service, which works with stray and feral cats, warned that as a cat ages, it may not always be safe for them to venture outdoors, even if they have been allowed outside their entire life.

“For super seniors who have lived as outdoor cats, we recommend transitioning to keeping them as a house cat and providing supervised visits outdoors,” Alice said. “It is highly risky to let your super senior cat come and go as they please.”

It’s common for cats in the United Kingdom to be allowed outside. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) does not recommend keeping a cat that is used to going outdoors inside, unless, as in Jasper’s case, for health reasons.

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