In late November of 2005, "Cyrano" wandered up to a nice woman's house on Highway 119 North, just north of Mill Creek Subdivision and Golf Course above Mebane, NC. She fed him a few days but when she realized he was declawed and didn't seem to be returning home, she called her vet to ask for help. They called me and I went to get him. I was certain that I'd get him home and use my scanner to find his microchip and within minutes, we'd have a happy reunion. But he wasn't chipped. Declawed, neutered and not microchipped.

What a great cat, he is — but no one claimed him. No reports of a lost cat fitting his description at the local county shelters. No reports at the local vet clinics. One response from my ad in the paper but it didn't turn out to be the right cat.... No responses to my posts on the Internet. Could his people have moved and given up hope of finding him? If only these lost ones could tell you what they've been through.

The morning after I got him, I took him with me to the local shelter (where I was picking up a feral mom cat and her unweaned babies) and had him microchipped and tested for FeLV/FIV (negative). And then after a trip to the vet for shots and a check-up, we determined that he is hyperthyroid and possibly 12 or 13 years old. We are controlling his condition with medication. He is a great cat and doesn't seem to have any negative issues with being declawed. Since I was unable to locate his owners, he will be able to live out his life here.