In a car park in Wisbech, England, an elderly tortoiseshell cat had made her bed on an abandoned sofa. Local residents had noticed her and had been feeding her. But she was clearly old, and she was living rough.
She was taken to the charity Cats Protection, where she was given the name Great Aunt Ethel.
A clue, and a dead end
Ethel had a microchip. It showed that she was born in 1999, which made her 21 years old. Her carers hoped the chip would lead them to her owner.
But the details on the database were out of date. Her last owner could not be found. It later emerged that her previous owner had died, and locals believed Ethel had gone to live with family in Wisbech before running off or being left to roam.
A second chance
At Cats Protection’s Downham Market Adoption Centre in Norfolk, Ethel was checked over. Apart from some dental work, she got a clean bill of health and was in fine condition for her age. She was friendly and loving with everyone.
Soon after, Ethel found a new home with Alison Westgate and her family in the countryside near East Harling. Now, instead of a sofa in a car park, she has a garden to sun herself in.
Ethel’s story is also a gentle reminder for every pet owner: keep your pet’s microchip details up to date.
Thinking about adopting a senior pet?
Older dogs and cats are often calm, gentle and already house-trained. If you are curious whether a senior pet could fit your life, our Adopting an Older Pet guides are a good place to start.
Source: This story was originally reported by Cats Protection. We have retold it in our own words.
Images on this page are AI illustrations based on a true story. They do not show the real people or animals.
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