Butters, a tabby cat who went missing from his San Diego home in 2011, has finally returned to his owners after a remarkable journey of 12 years and 200 miles.
Butters was found by an animal services officer in Blythe, a desert community in Riverside County, California, on October 5. The officer, Luis Serrano, noticed that Butters was wearing a collar and scanned his microchip, which revealed his owners’ contact information.
The owners, Angelo and Shelley Castellino, had moved to Seattle in 2014 and had given up hope of ever seeing Butters again. They were stunned when they received a call from Serrano, who told them that their cat was alive and well.
“I thought he was dead. I thought he was gone. I thought he was never coming back,” Shelley Castellino said.
“It’s just amazing. It’s a miracle. It’s unbelievable,” Angelo Castellino said.
The Castellinos flew back to San Diego to reunite with Butters on October 9. They hugged and kissed their long-lost cat, who recognized them and purred happily.
“He’s very sweet. He’s very affectionate. He’s just a really cool cat,” Serrano said.
The Castellinos thanked Serrano and the Riverside County Department of Animal Services for finding and caring for Butters. They also expressed their gratitude to a volunteer from a charitable organization called Pilots N Paws, who helped transport Butters to Seattle on October 15.
“We’re just so happy to have him back. He’s part of our family,” Shelley Castellino said.
“He’s been through so much. He’s a survivor,” Angelo Castellino said.
It is unknown how Butters survived and traveled such a long distance from San Diego to Blythe. The Castellinos suspect that he may have hitched a ride with someone or followed a food source. They said they plan to keep him indoors and give him lots of love and attention.
Butters’ story is a reminder of the importance of microchipping pets and keeping the information updated, as it can increase the chances of reuniting with them if they go missing.
Relevant articles:
– SoCal tabby cat reunited with owners 12 years after running away: ‘I thought he was dead’, ABC7 Los Angeles, October 9, 2023
– 12 years after going missing, former Southern California family reunited with long-lost cat, MSN, October 10, 2023
– Pet Owners Reunite With Missing Cat 12 Years Later Who Wandered More Than 200 Miles, Inside Edition, October 12, 2023
– Cat that went missing for 12 years returns home, MSN, October 12, 2023