Cat reunited with owners after nine month search

A runaway cat has been reunited with its family almost nine months after it vanished. 

‘Coco’, the beloved farm cat, was finally reunited with his Portland-based family after a journey across the state, which saw him nearly adopted out multiple times at shelters in Melbourne and Warrnambool. 

His owners, Sophie and Liam Nelson, and their three daughters Ella, Porsha and Georgie, said it was a relief to finally have him back home on the farm again. 

“The girls were incredibly worried that something bad had happened to Coco after we couldn’t find him at his normal spots on the farm,” said Sophie. 

“However we didn’t stop looking, despite the time that continued to pass. It was by a lucky chance that a friend had tagged me in a lost animals post six months after his disappearance on Facebook that we were able to find him once again. 

“It was such a lovely surprise to know we could be reunited with him after all that time, and I couldn’t believe the journey he had been on throughout those six months.” 

Coco was initially found by Glenelg Shire Local Laws Rangers only a few kilometers from the family farm, but because he wasn’t registered, officers had no way to identify or get in contact with his owners. All lost pets are advertised on Council’s website for a brief period before they are transferred to other shelters. 

Coco was then transferred to the Warrnambool RSPCA Shelter, and then multiple RSPCA Shelters in Melbourne, at the hope of being adopted. 

Luckily, he wasn’t adopted out and was based at the Warrnambool Shelter when Sophie spotted his photo online.  

“We wish we had’ve registered him sooner, we would’ve been able to collect him from Portland within the same week he went missing and have skipped the heartache for our family in between,” she said. 

“I urge all pets owners to make sure they register their pets – it’s such a simple process that could ultimately save so much suffering.” 

RSPCA Warrnambool Shelter Supervisor, Tracey Scott said that love for our pets comes with responsibility.   

“There are many benefits to registering pets. Importantly, up-to-date registration can mean the difference between a beloved lost pet being reunited with its owner or being rehomed through council or an animal welfare organisation. Animal registration forms part of Victorian legislation and is a legal requirement in all council areas,” she said. 

“Pet registration and microchipping each function separately, however are equally important for the safety of our pets and our communities.  

“We are always here to support the community of Glenelg, but we hope to see fewer unregistered pets coming through our doors in the future.”