Meet Max, AKA Felix. This handsome cat went missing in December 2013 from his home in Sawston, Cambridgeshire. After months of searching, putting up posters and social media campaigning, his owner Lyn Whittock gave up hope of him returning, fearing the worst. Then one Thursday in March this year, over 5 years since his initial disappearance, clients of ours brought in a stray they’d been caring for. On scanning for a microchip, he turned out to be Max!
Max relaxing at Lyn’s home
Lyn & Max
Our clients, Peter and Marion, had been caring for the cat they’d named Felix after he turned up near their home along with another cat, Smudge, in late 2015. These two feline friends had been eating food put out for the birds and foxes, and sheltering under some decking. Over a few months, they gradually got braver and commandeered the shed! Smudge was very friendly, but Felix was much more nervous. Peter and Marion put up posters but received no responses, then sadly in October 2017 Smudge was run over. He had no microchip and was not castrated so may never have belonged to a family, despite being the bolder, friendlier cat. After a few weeks of being on his own Felix decided that Peter and Marion weren’t so scary after all, and moved in, settling down and becoming far more friendly and placid.
It was with some trepidation that they later took him to the Cat Clinic in Fulbourn to check for a microchip, and a bittersweet surprise to find his original owner was found to live only 5 minutes away!
Lyn, of course, was even more shocked, having given up all hope of seeing Max ever again. Lyn had kept the vaccination certificates from when Max was a kitten and thought of him often, but never expected to be reunited. The actual day of the call was especially poignant as it came less than 24 hours after Lyn had to have her German Shepherd dog, Max’s old friend Lily, euthanased due to old age.
“It was such a surprise to hear that Max was still about” says Lyn. “Both him and Dot (his sister) had decided they no longer wanted to live in the house – for no apparent reason to me – and went to live in the garage instead. Dot remained nearby, but Max disappeared and I thought that, unfortunately, he’d been knocked down or taken. For Max to be returned the day after Lily’s passing is unbelievable, and eased my grief a little at that sad time”
Where Max had been between the time he went missing and him showing up at Peter and Marion’s will forever remain a mystery!
Felix/Max at Peter and Marion’s
and Smudge – separated at birth..?
Since returning, Max has been kept indoors to re-familiarise himself with his old home, but will soon be let out to decide for himself where he wishes to live. Although thrilled to have Max back home, Lyn remains pragmatic about the situation and, putting Max’s feelings first, wants him to choose the place he feels happiest. Lyn, Peter and Marion are keeping in touch, and have an agreement that if Max turns up at Peter and Marion’s again then they will care for him… for however long he chooses to stay.
This story touched all our hearts here at the Cat Clinic and is a perfect illustration of the importance of microchipping your cat.