Kamloops cat owner’s joyful reunion highlights importance of permanent pet identification

Apr 22, 2026 | 11:29 AM

KAMLOOPS — As National Pet ID Week (April 17 to 23) wraps up, the BC SPCA is using a local example to highlight the importance of microchipping and other forms of permanent identification.

According to a news release from the agency, the story began last October 7, when Mike the cat escaped out the door of his Kamloops home and disappeared.

Despite the family’s desperate search, Mike was nowhere to be found.

Two months later, on December 5, Mike’s owner Nicole received a call telling her Mike had been corralled by a Community Services Officer (CSO) and taken to the Kamloops BC SPCA location.

It turned out Mike had wandered 25 kilometres from home, crossing bridges and a river to end up where we was eventually found.

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When staff at the animal care centre scanned Mike for a microchip, Nicole’s information was revealed.

“When I got the call, my mind was racing from what to how,” said Nicole. “I didn’t believe it at first. It felt surreal.”

“We think Mike must have climbed into a vehicle and unknowingly hitched a ride,” she added. “All of his animal siblings, a cat, a dog and a chicken were all very happy to have him home again.”

“Because Mike’s microchip was registered and accurate, up-to-date contact information was registered to it, BC SPCA staff were able to reach out to Nicole,” said Priscilla Cheung, manager of the BC Pet Registry. “They set up a time for her to come to the centre and reunite with Mike.”

For more information about pet identification, visit the BC Pet Registry website.

by James Peters

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Kamloops cat owner’s joyful reunion highlights importance of permanent pet identification

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