A “grateful” pet owner has been reunited with his cat after it went missing almost two years ago.
Marc Boote’s cat Mozart was found by police at Government House, just four kilometers from Mr Boote’s Norwood home in Adelaide, on November 6.
RSPCA staff managed to track down Mozart’s owner thanks to a microchip fitted to the cat before he went missing.
Marc Boote (pictured centre) found his missing cat Mozart after he went missing almost two years ago.
Mr Boote had missed Mozart dearly since his disappearance in December 2021 and said he was relieved the cat was safe and sound.
He is currently working on cat-proofing his pergola so that Mozart doesn’t escape again.
“I am so grateful that he is okay and back home and I urge people to make sure their cats are microchipped as I would never have gotten Mozart back if he hadn’t did not have this means of identification.” Mr Boote said Nine news.
Nalika van Loenen from RSPCA Rescue located Mozart using the Database of Dogs and Cats Online (DACO).
The registry allows South Australians to search for stray dogs and cats.
RSCPA rescuers traced Mozart (pictured) to his owner using a microchip installed in the cat before he went hunting.
Carolyn Jones from the RSPCA said rescuers are more likely to return dogs to their owners than cats because more dogs are microchipped.
“Half of the stray dogs that come to us are microchipped so can be returned to their owners. Only around four per cent of stray cats are microchipped,” Ms Jones said.
Ms Jones said unless missing cats are spotted on the RSPCA’s strays page, there is usually a five-day window for animals to be claimed by the rightful owner.
The agency is seeking to find new homes for the animals if they are not returned to their owners during this time.
