Meet Snoop, the cat who came back after going missing for more than two years.
The owner of the moggy, Alison Sinclair, said she was thrilled to have her beloved pet back.
Snoop, also known as Snoopy, went missing from Ms Sinclair’s Hoppers Crossing home as a six-month-old kitten.
Ms Sinclair said she spent months searching for Snoop.
She contacted vet clinics and the Lort Smith Animal Hospital, and also turned to social media – to no avail.
Eventually Snoop was handed in to a Werribee vet clinic. Although she was microchipped, the clinic could not contact Ms Sinclair, who had moved out of the area.
Snoop was handed over to Wyndham council animal rangers, who were able to track down Ms Sinclair after trawling through their animal registration database.
Ms Sinclair said that she was “absolutely shocked, overwhelmed and excited” when she received a phone call about Snoop’s return.
She hurried back to Wyndham to collect her.
“I was half expecting to walk in and have it not be my cat,” Ms Sinclair said.
“But as soon as I walked in, I put my fingers through the cage and she started licking them – I knew she was the same loving and affectionate cat.
“I’m a big advocate for microchipping now – you never know if your pet is going to get out.”
Wyndham environment and sustainability portfolio holder Heather Marcus said the return of Snoop was a timely reminder for people to make sure their pet registration was up to date.
“As the owner of two cats, I know how devastated I would be if I couldn’t find either of them,” Cr Marcus said.
She said pet owners who moved house or changed phone numbers could update their details at petaddress.com.au