The happiest story about a cat and her dad reuniting brings hope. Never give up on your missing pets… and always make sure they’re microchipped!
Gauteng, South Africa (16 March 2026) – Yet another story of a pet being reunited with family after a long time away from home!
Two years ago in April 2024, Raven vanished from her home in Welgedacht, Springs. Her owner did everything a worried pet parent could possibly do to find her and bring her home. Nothing helped.
“On 6 April 2024, Raven went missing from Welgedacht AH in Springs. Riaan Mynhardt and his friend searched everywhere with K9 dogs and volunteers, but there was not a single trace of her,” shares K9 Loki, a local page dedicated to sharing the work of Loki, a search and rescue dog who helps find missing pets in South Africa.
But not even Loki couldn’t crack the case. Raven had managed to pull off a disappearing act that no tracking dog could follow.
Meanwhile, in Pretoria, a new ‘stray’ cat had appeared at a venue called Klitsgras in Garsfontein. The owner of the spot noticed her last year and, seeing she was alone, began putting out food and looking after her. She was friendly enough and settled into the rhythm of the venue and watched patrons come and go.
For nearly a year, Riaan and his friends actually visited that very same venue. He would head through from time to time, never realising that as he sat and talked, the cat he had missed so desperately was living just meters away…
As it turns out, Raven had unknowingly hitched a ride in a car or an engine bay during a storm two years ago and hitchhiked her way to an entirely new life! The distance between Springs and Pretoria East is roughly 50 kilometres – far further than any cat would wander on foot – which is why the search dogs back home could never find a scent!
“On the day she disappeared there was heavy weather. The only explanation is that Raven must have hidden in the car or engine bay before they unknowingly drove to Klitsgras.”
And then the stars finally aligned.
Raven decided it was time to step out and say hello to a familiar face. Riaan caught a glimpse of her and felt a jolt of recognition. She had the markings, the look, and the temperament of his missing girl, but after two years, he couldn’t trust his eyes alone. He went out and bought a microchip scanner, anxious to get a definite answer.
“She had many of Raven’s markings, but he couldn’t be sure. Thankfully, Raven was microchipped. Riaan decided to buy a microchip scanner and check the cat himself.”
He scanned her once, then again, searching until he finally located the chip in her hip. The device beeped, confirming what Riaan could almost not believe. Raven had found her way back to him, fifty kilometres and seven hundred days later.
After two years, last weekend, Raven finally left the venue behind to go back to the home she disappeared from two years ago.
This happy ending is an important reminder about why we should always check our vehicles before driving off. It also reinforces why microchipping pets is so important. Without that tiny bit of technology, Riaan might have spent another year visiting Klitsgras, never knowing that his paw-baby was always right there waiting for him to notice her.
“Two years is a long time… but sometimes hope simply waits for the right moment to bring a family back together.”
Sources: Linked above.
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