Unanderra woman reunited with missing Ally cat after eight years apart

But after a several months, with searches and ‘missing cat’ posters yielding nothing, Krista Abbott accepted that Ally was gone.

A year and a half passed and Ms Abbott moved from her Maroochydore, Queensland home to Taree, on the mid-north coast.

She met her future husband, got married, had two children and relocated with her family to Unanderra. 

Ally was a distant memory when Ms Abbott received a voice message recently. 

“Do you have a cat missing? We’ve got this cat here … your details are registered.” 

On Tuesday Ms Abbott was reunited with Ally after an incredible eight years apart. 

The cat was found in Nambour, about 20kms from Maroochydore, and her microchip led authorities to her registered owner.

“She was in a pretty good condition when she was found, I’m told,” Ms Abbott said.

“She'd sort of wandered into another family’s home. It's obvious to me that she's been with someone for the past eight years, but I don't know what her story is.”

“I was really devastated when she went missing. You never forget about it, but you put it out of your mind eventually. 

“It was pretty exciting to see her again.” 

The cat was seven months old when she went missing. She had a friendly nature, and would often visit the neighbours, Ms Abbott said. 

Now living in a townhouse (she is not allowed outside), Ally is adjusting to life with an attentive toddler, Olivia, 2.5, and Evie, four months. 

“She's still quite a small cat. When she adjusts fully to this, I think I'll see her personality come out again.”

PETstock paid for the cat’s airfare ahead of an Australia-wide microchipping blitz this weekend, which aims to highlight the importance of the practice. 

During the two-day blitz, pet owners an get their animals chipped for $10 at PETstock stores.The company is aiming to chip 10,000 pets throughout the blitz.