Charlotte, a pet cat from Maida Vale, London, vanished in 2010, leaving her owner Vivien Tarlton heartbroken. Vivien relentlessly searched for her, posting flyers, asking neighbors, and even consulting a psychic, but as the years went on, she was forced to stop actively looking, though she never lost hope.
In a surprising turn of events, Vivien’s dreams came true when she received a call earlier this month from the RSPCA. Charlotte, now 20 years old, had been found six miles away in Lambeth, South London. According to the RSPCA, Charlotte had been living a “semi-feral” existence in the area for some time, with a local resident feeding her in recent years.
However, the resident noticed Charlotte’s health declining, prompting them to contact the RSPCA. Thanks to Charlotte’s microchip, RSPCA inspector Jade Guthrie was able to track down Vivien.
Vivien was overjoyed to be reunited with Charlotte, who was even able to meet her son Harley, one of Charlotte’s kittens born just before she disappeared. Sadly, Charlotte’s health had significantly worsened over the years. After a veterinary assessment, it was determined that the kindest decision would be to put her to sleep.
Despite the short reunion, Vivien expressed gratitude for the last two weeks she spent with Charlotte. “I’ve gone from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows, but the 16 days Charlotte was with me were lovely,” Vivien shared. “She was home and safe.”
Vivien reflected on the time Charlotte spent living in a semi-feral state and marveled at her cat’s resilience in traveling across London. “She must have jumped on a bus as it’s quite a distance,” Vivien remarked. “I never gave up hope of seeing her again.”
Vivien also shared that Charlotte’s disappearance left a lasting impact on her, and she had always wondered what had happened to her beloved cat. “I needed to know what happened to her,” she said, expressing her gratitude for the kind person who contacted the RSPCA.
RSPCA inspector Guthrie noted that Charlotte was in poor health when found, struggling to walk and covered in matted fur. She explained that Charlotte had been living “feral” for years and had been cared for by the person who thought she was a stray.
The emotional reunion was only possible because Charlotte was microchipped. This serves as a reminder that starting in June 2024, it will be a legal requirement for cats to be microchipped from the age of 20 weeks.
The RSPCA also used Charlotte’s story to highlight the growing issue of stray and abandoned cats. The charity’s “Adoptober” campaign, launched in October, urges animal lovers to adopt rather than buy from breeders, addressing the overwhelming number of cats in need of homes across England and Wales.
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