A lost Kamloops cat named Mike was reunited with his family thanks to a tracking chip with up-to-date contact information.
An April 21 media release from the BC SPCA tells the story of Mike’s 59-day journey away from home, and his reunification with his guardian Nicole due to being registered in a database like the B.C. Pet Registry. They say he was one of the lucky ones who was able to find his way home.
On Oct. 7, the Kamloops cat slipped out the door of his home and vanished, explains Priscilla Cheung, manager of the B.C. Pet Registry. The family searched for months, frantic to find their beloved cat, she says.
Early on after Mike’s disappearance, his guardian Nicole would walk around the neighbourhood shaking bags of treats and calling his name. She posted to local Facebook groups and asked neighbours to watch for him. Despite her efforts, Mike was not found, the society says.
On Dec. 5, Nicole received the long-awaited call. A bylaw officer found Mike and brought him to the BC SPCA Kamloops.
The wayward feline had travelled 25 km away from home, crossing bridges and a river in his journeying.
When BC SPCA staff scanned for a microchip, Nicole’s contact information immediately came up, the release reads.
Nicole says that, when she got the call, her mind was racing from what, to how.
“I didn’t believe it at first. It felt surreal,” she says.
The BC SPCA says that, when Nicole arrived, she felt overwhelmed. Mike was a little fearful and skittish at first, but that quickly turned into tears of relief and long-awaited snuggles.
Cheung says that, because Mike’s microchip was registered and accurate, with up-to-date contact information, BC SPCA staff were able to reach out to Nicole about her lost pet.
“They set up a time for her to come to the centre and reunite with Mike,” she says.
Nicole explains they think Mike must have climbed into a car and unknowingly hitched a ride.
“All of his animal siblings, a cat, a dog and a chicken were all very happy to have him home again,” Nicole says.
The BC SPCA says that April 17 to 23 is National Pet ID Week, which they say serves as a reminder to pet guardians of the importance of permanent identification and having pets registered to a database.
They say that, in 2025, more than 5,000 lost pets passed through BC SPCA community animal centres. The society explains that about 85 per cent of the cats and 40 per cent of the dogs were unable to reunite with their families because of a lack of permanent identification, or their information was not registered or up-to-date.
Cheung says that without permanent ID, it can be extremely difficult and often impossible to identify a lost pet and get them back to their guardian.
“Collars and tags are important, but they can slip off. Permanent identification like a microchip stays with your pet for their whole life,” Cheung says.
The BC SPCA says that, during recent B.C. Pet Registry community events, hundreds of pets were scanned, and about 20 per cent of microchips were not linked to any registry in North America, which they called shocking.
“This National Pet ID Week, the BC SPCA and B.C. Pet Registry are reminding pet guardians to check their microchip registration to verify that the linked contact information is current and accurate, and are also encouraging pets be registered with the B.C. Pet Registry to give BC SPCA animal centre staff, as well as authorized shelters and clinic partners, direct and immediate access to your contact information,” the society says.
They add that, to learn more about how permanent ID works, to visit this link.