In a heartwarming Christmas miracle, the Randburg Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (JSPCA) experienced a tale of joy when a stray cat was reunited with his owners after 10 years.

The revelation was made after SPCA staff routinely scanned the cat, a procedure conducted for all incoming animals. The chip contained the details that enabled the staff to contact the owner and discover that Slinky had been missing for an entire decade.

Slinky’s owner Albert Swart rushed to collect the now 15-year-old cat.

He says the call from the SPCA left him feeling several emotions. “I was shocked, surprised and somewhat confused. They explained that he was handed in by someone living on Maria Street in Ferndale, that’s 3km from where he went missing.”

Swart says that having Slinky back felt like a new adoption. “Initially, it was weird because I had accepted his loss. But it is nice to have him back. To some extent, it is more like a new adoption than having him back. I am, however, glad that he is back safe and able to be cared for.”

Slinky is less affectionate than he was before he went missing and it’s obvious that he had a difficult life as a stray, says Swart. “He is slowly getting better and we can let him out with the other cats as long as there is supervision and treats to bribe him with. We will see how it works out in the end.”

Speaking about the miraculous reunion, the kennel manager at Randburg SPCA, Cynthia Swanepoel, highlighted the critical role microchipping played in finding Slinky. She says that without a microchip, locating the owners would have been impossible.

“Microchipping is extremely important as we have seen with Slinky. A simple little chip made a massive difference. It takes only a few seconds to do the chipping and it reaps a lifetime benefits.”

Swanepoel emphasises that microchipping is crucial, especially for pets that do not wear collars or may easily lose them.

Swart agrees and advises pet owners to ensure their pets can be identified. “Irrespective of what they [lost pets] go through, that little chip is invaluable. I believe that a collar with a tag is also useful, as people on the street can easily [find] the cat’s owner.”