'Overjoyed': Missing Victoria cat found months later in Nanaimo, B.C.
Staff at the BC SPCA branch in Nanaimo are calling the discovery of a missing cat from Victoria in the Harbour City a "miracle."
Wendy Kotorynski, senior manager of the Nanaimo BC SPCA branch, says a missing three-year-old cat named Hobbes was brought into the shelter on Saturday evening after he had gone missing more than three months ago.
Hobbes' family, who is from Victoria, were on a camping trip at Kennedy Lake near Tofino, B.C., in late June.
When the family first arrived and were exiting their car, a dog came up to the vehicle and spooked Hobbes, causing him to bolt, according to Kotorynski.
The family spent the next six days camping in the area and looking for Hobbes.
"They even paddled around the lake to check the shorelines," said the SPCA branch manager.
Sadly, Hobbes was never found, and his owners had all but given up hope.
"Just recently the owner had actually gathered up his cat items to donate because he thought it'd been so long he'd never find the cat," said Kotorynski.
But then on Saturday, Hobbes was brought in to the Nanaimo SPCA branch by a local resident.
Kotorynski says Hobbes had somehow managed to cross the island and walked into a Nanaimo woman's home.
The homeowner first asked neighbours if Hobbes belonged to them before ultimately deciding to bring the cat to the SPCA.
"We scanned the cat for a microchip and immediately were able to contact the owner," said Kotorynski.
"He was overjoyed. He came up first thing in the morning the next day," she said.
Hobbes the cat and his owner are shown. (BC SPCA Nanaimo Branch/Facebook)
Hobbes was thin but had no visible injuries.
"Who knows what adventures he went on and what got him here," said Kotorynski.
The SPCA branch manager says she's grateful the Nanaimo resident brought Hobbes to the shelter, and she's encouraging all pet owners to get their pets microchipped in case they get lost.
Approximately one million pets go missing in Canada each year, and a microchip can help pets get reunited with their owners, according to Kotorynski.
"We had another similar miracle find in the summer, so this is kind of twice now that these pets who get lost while travelling have been reunited because of the microchip," said the SPCA branch manager.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.