Cat found 1127km from home reunited with family after eight months missing

A cat has been reunited with her family after going missing for eight months very far from home.

Kumiko had ended up 700 miles (1127km) away from her family in Michigan in the US at an animal shelter.

While at the Humane Society of Huron Valley she was renamed Crouching Tiger.

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"Crouching Tiger came to us as a stray. We never imagined how far she'd traveled from home," the shelter said in a Facebook post.

The Humane Society told CBS News the cat was found in a live trap but surprisingly wasn't injured and was also in good health.

Thanks to Kumiko/Crouching Tiger's microchip the cat was able to be traced back to her original adoption centre and then to her family in New Hampshire.

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"Imagine their surprise when we called them up. Crouching Tiger had gone missing 8 months earlier, and they'd given up hope of ever finding her," the shelter said.

"We wish Crouching Tiger could tell us the story behind her baffling journey, but the happy ending is what matters. Her family wasted no time and caught a plane to Michigan, to bring their baby home."

The cat's reunion with her family is a reminder of the importance of microchipping, which, like in this case, is particularly helpful when cats end up wandering long distances away where people won't see 'lost pet' signs.

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"Although Crouching Tiger's story is extraordinary, lost pets are unfortunately a common occurrence. Which is why we always say: microchip, microchip, microchip! It's a quick and inexpensive procedure that any veterinarian can perform," the shelter said.

But it's important to not solely rely on microchipping pets as giving them an identification tag is also helpful.

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According to vet Dr Katrina Warren, reunions with lost pets can be sped up if they also have a tag.

"A physical ID tag provides immediate and easily accessible information about your pet. It typically includes your pet's name and phone number, allowing anyone who finds your pet to contact you directly and quickly," she wrote in an article for 9honey.

"This direct communication can save valuable time and eliminate potential confusion when relying solely on a microchip, which requires a trip to a veterinary clinic or animal shelter for scanning.

"ID tags are helpful in emergencies when you may need to be contacted quickly. Without a physical ID tag, many pets will end up in a veterinary hospital or animal shelter but you are relying on the person who finds your pet to take them there physically."

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