Missing since 2018
One day in 2018, Lana wandered off from her home in Montroy, France, and never returned. Her owner tried everything to find her, putting up posters in the street and appealing for witnesses, but to no avail. As the years went by, there was still no news.
Yet all along, the cat had actually stayed in the village. An elderly local man had taken her in, completely unaware that a loving owner was searching for her, local media ici La Rochelle reported.
A move to a care home changes everything
The story could easily have ended there. But when the elderly gentleman moved into a care home, Lana was left without a roof over her head. She was placed with a foster family, and the ASPAC animal shelter in nearby Châtelaillon began investigating her past. Her identification tattoo was partially faded, and there was no record of where she came from. After some digging, the volunteers managed to trace her original home.
Reunited after eight long years
In early October, Lana's owner went to meet her at the foster family's house. "I recognised her straight away," she told ici La Rochelle. The cat's reaction was just as touching. Although she had always turned her nose up at comfort blankets, she rushed straight to the cuddly toy she had before she vanished. Lana has settled back into her old routine with her owner ever since.
Why pet identification matters
Lana's story serves as a helpful reminder of why pet identification is so important. In France, identification by microchip or tattoo is compulsory for cats born after 2012, making it possible to contact the owner if a pet is found. However, tattoos can fade over time, just as Lana's did. A cat with an existing tattoo can also be fitted with a microchip to ensure their details remain secure.
Translated from the FR Wamiz website using artificial intelligence
