Person discovers that the Siamese cat they adopted was actually microchipped for years, tries finding the feline's previous owner and can't, now doesn't know what to do: 'How did the humane society miss this???'

Author image for Mariel Ruvinsky
Mariel Ruvinsky • Writer and Editor
Apr 7, 2025 9:00 AM EDT

Adopting a cat is one of the most amazing experiences that anyone can have. We believe that, and we stand by that every day. Returning a lost cat to their previous owners, even after you think you have been chosen by a cat, is also an amazing experience. It's heartbreaking on one hand, of course, because so many of us wait so long to be chosen by our feline companions, but it's the right thing to do - it's putting a family back together. 

But what happens if you find out that the cat you have had and loved for years is actually microchipped and used to belong to someone else? What is the right thing to do then? That is exactly the dilemma that the person in today's story has to face. Now, credit where credit is due… they seem to be truly trying to find the previous owners, even though we don't know if they would be able to actually give the cat back. They're trying to do what they think is right. But they can't find the owner, and now, the fear that remains is that one day… that owner might come back, and they might have some words to say. 

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  • 01

    "Today I found out my siamese which I adopted in 2013 was microchipped in 2009!!!!!!"

    Cheezburger Image 10490461696
    via Expert_Most8737

  • What a dilemma. Seriously. We don't know what we would have done at this point. If we had lost our cat after microchipping it and still weren't able to find it, and then we discovered that someone has been keeping our cat from us? We would have bee devastated. But if we found out that our cat used to belong to someone else - who might be missing it and waiting for it to come back… also devastated. 

  • 02
    My cat was shaved to fit her freestyle for glucose monitoring and after removing the first device I found something needle like under her skin. I posted on here for recommendations but I only got one reply.
    via Expert_Most8737
  • 03
    Today, I took my cat to the vet for check up and it turns out she has been microchipped the entire time she has been with me - and guess by whom? her prior owner!!!!!!!!!
    via Expert_Most8737
  • 04
    I adopted her in 2013 from a humane society and I was told she was found wandering on the streets. How did the humane society miss this??? She spent about 3 months at the shelter before I adopted her.
    via Expert_Most8737
  • 05
    Soon after adoption I did my due diligence to try to find any old posts about a missing siamese in that area, I did deep research, I posted and searched for old posts on Craigslist for a missing cat, but didn't have any luck. I just couldn't wrap my head around the fact that this precious girl was dumped on the streets, so I did what I would have liked someone to do for my pets.
    via Expert_Most8737
  • 06
    This attempt failed and decided that she was my girl now. Today, after finding out about the microchip, I called the humane society (a location that could have been the location I adopted her from- I'm not sure as I was new to the state and I found her far away from me and I made the drive to get her) to ask if they were microchipping in 2013 and the answer was no.
    via Expert_Most8737
  • 07
    Due to this, I went online, got the name of the microchip company with her microchip number and called. I talked to a representative to find out this chip was associated with a name and address. She hadn't being reported as lost and she was older than I thought she was at the time of adoption.
    via Expert_Most8737
  • 08
    When I asked what I should do to put her under my name they told me they would submit a form to the owner to relinquish her to me and I told the rep to stop as I did not know how to proceed.
    via Expert_Most8737
  • 09
    At this point I'm considering not doing anything as there is a small fear in me that the person would want my cat back (altho she has been with me since 2013) and I haven't figured out which humane society I got her from to get her adoption paperwork in order (I have moved so many times that I have throw away most of the paperwork I have) Thoughts?????
    via Expert_Most8737
  • 10
    Cheezburger Image 10490462208
    via Unspalsh / Alex Meier

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

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  • 11
    Cake Desperate3148 I wouldn't do anything about it. You didn't do anything wrong here. It's been your cat since 2013 so I wouldn't risk them asking for you to give it up!
    via CakeDesperate3148
  • 12
    Expert Most8737 OP I have thought that is the best option too. Altho, if my cat went missing I would like to know what happened to her but I don't think I'm willing to risk getting into some sort of weird situation. I also called the vet because they told me they were going to register her and I told them to stop as I don't know the implications of it :/
    via Expert_Most8737
  • 13
    Cheezburger Image 10490461952
    via Unspalsh / Parviz Isaev - isaev

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • To be entirely fair to you, it seems like you did everything that you could have done and more. You have really gone out of your way to try to find this cat's owners. After all of that… it doesn't sound like they are looking for their cat as much as you are for them. It's time to quit. This is your kitty now. 

  • 14
    Rubysomething I would get it figured out and give them my info/request relinquishment because it's bene 11- 12 years. I am shocked that in all these years the vets you've been to have never noticed she had a chip. I am terrified of something like that happening to one of mine, they are all chipped. Anytime I've found a stray dog or kitty they are always taken to be scanned first thing (and this was a decade or more ago, they have been chipping for years and years).
    via Rubysomething
  • 15
    Expert Most8737 OP I just think that they never scanned her because I she was mine, so there wasn't any real reason to try to scan her right?
    via Expert_Most8737
  • 16
    Cheezburger Image 10490462720
    via Unspalsh / Hana Oliver - hanako87

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 17
    MinimumSuccotash4134 my only concern here would be that if she were to get lost somehow, she couldn't be returned to you because you aren't on the chip. since you've had her for 12 years and nothing like that has happened, it's probably fine.
    via MinimumSuccotash4134
  • 18
    Expert Most8737 OP Same concern here. She hasn't gotten lost because I'm very diligent about always checking her whereabouts but recently we moved and she keeps trying to sneak to the backyard when the dog goes out or when guests open the back door to the yard.
    via Expert_Most8737
  • 19
    Cheezburger Image 10490462464
    via Unspalsh / Alex Meier

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 20
    Party-Shoulder3969 If she never reported for her cat being missed. I suppose it's not hard to infer that she likely dumped the cat on the street. I don't think you should be worried too much about it. She has been with you for 11 years now. She's yours now.
    via Party-Shoulder3969
  • 21
    Puzzlekitt She's yours, her owners clearly dumped her.
    via Puzzlekitt
  • 22
    CaptOverkill Nah this kitty would be lost if you had to give her back now. Statute of limitations or something (not a lawyer)
    via CaptOverkill
  • 23
    Hatepeople13 I would just keep her. 1)no old ads desperately looking for a beloved pet 2) she was wandering the streets where she would have been killed by a dog, car, crazy person or starvation
    via Hatepeople13
  • 24
    3)she has bonded with you and is older than you thought, it would be too great a shock This is just my opinion... if she had only been lost a month at the most | *might* contact the original owner, depending on my gut feelings.
    via Expert_Most8737

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