Maine Coon missing for five years is reunited with owner after travelling 30 miles from home

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A nice-looking white Maine Coon, Zeke, has been reunited with his human caregiver, David Blane, after he somehow travelled from Haringey, London to Stevenage, Herts which is about 30 miles. Nobody knows how he travelled from Haringey to Hertfordshire. Perhaps he got a lift in a van or lorry. Or perhaps he was stolen and then abandoned. Whatever happened, he was left abandoned on the streets of Stevenage in Hertfordshire. This is five years after he vanished in 2016 when he was 2.5 years old and a well known cat in his neighbourhood.

Zeke and David Blane after reunion
Zeke and David Blane after reunion. Photo: Cats Protection.

David Blaine said that Zeke disappeared when he got two new cats. He now realises that the two new cats bullied Zeke which forced him out of the home and eventually onto the street. David tried the usual methods to try and find Zeke but failed. He'd given up seeing him again.

Then he turned up in Stevenage and was picked up and cared for by Cats Protection, the well-known cat charity. Bianca at Cats Protection had almost given up contacting Zeke's owner. Zeke was microchipped and the microchip was scanned but the veterinarian had no luck in contacting the owner. Bianca tried several times and apparently on the last time David Blane answered the phone.

Zeke
Zeke.

RELATED: Nowadays there is no need for a cat to be lost

Zeke's teeth were in poor condition and five of them had to be removed. But he's been treated and vaccinated and well cared for by a Cats Protection volunteer foster carer, Shelagh. He was subdued and Bianca felt that he needed to meet with his owner, David. When he met David he perked up. David had all but given up seeing him again but he now feels like he's got the best Christmas present we could ever have.

And Bianca said: 

“It was amazing to see Zeke when David came to collect him. He stopped and looked at him for some minutes and then it seemed like a light had come on. He recognised Dave and Zeke’s body language changed. It was heart-warming to see."

Domestic cats have great long-term memories particularly in respect of their owner's appearance, their body language and their voice. They remember them all and that's why Zeke perked up. And the other two cats who had bullied him are no longer in the home so he has got it all to himself. He should be a happy boy now.

RELATED: Do cats in multi-cat homes adjust their personality to fit in with the other cats?

The story has a slightly serious side to it because it highlights the difficulty of introducing new cats to a home where there is a well-established resident cat. If the resident cat is slightly timid they might be bullied by the incoming cat and bingo, you have problem in which the resident cat can disappear. It is quite a challenge to adopt further cats to an existing cat household.

The story also highlights the benefits of microchipping which is why the UK government is introducing mandatory microchipping.

P.S. It is unusual to allow a Maine Coon free access to the outside.

Source: The Comet.

Location: London Borough of Haringey, London, UK

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