20-year-old cat missing for nine years reunited with owner and euthanized two hours later
This is the extraordinary story of a female cat named Babsy. At the age of 11, she left her home living with Mike Marshall. She disappeared for nine years. Mike presumed that she had died but she appears to have lived in the open air for those nine years.
Babsy before she disappeared at when she came back aged 20. Photo: RSPCA
During that time she had crossed a busy motorway and survived almost a decade enduring the outside elements.
At the age of 20, which is about a hundred years of age in human terms, blind and wobbly on her feet, she was recovered by the RSPCA about 5 miles from Mike’s home after they had been alerted to Babsy presence.
Babsy was micro-chipped. The RSPCA were able, therefore, to discover that Mike Marshall was her guardian/owner. He had not moved over the intervening years.
The RSPCA took Babsy to Mike and Inspector Cooper had goosebumps when she handed Babsy to her human companion. Babsy recognised him immediately and began to purr. Mike took her straight to a veterinarian where she was euthanised. That sounds extraordinary because it meant that she only had about two hours with her human companion on returning home.
It is very sad and when you read the story you can understand why the ending was Babsy’s euthanasia. Although having considered it I think it was a mistake.
Babsy reunited with MIke. Photo: RSPCA
Mike Marshall describes what happened:
“I would like to thank the RSPCA inspector for her kindness in returning her back home to me. Upon a subsequent visit to the vets, Babsy was discovered to be blind, had severe mobility issues and her overall physical deterioration would have necessitated sedation and anaesthesia before any detailed assessment and treatment could be undertaken. It was deemed that she would have been unlikely to survive these procedures and undertaking them would have caused her unnecessary distress and suffering.”
Therefore she was euthanised. Mike Marshall says that Babsy had a full, active and adventurous life which had run its course and he reluctantly decided to let her go peacefully. He said that she came home for her last couple of hours and for that he will be forever grateful.
P.S. I wonder if he could have let her live for a while longer. If she was not in pain or there was no sign of her being in pain, why not take her home and give her plenty of love? What’s wrong with that?
What do you think about the ending?
Source: Express.
Oh I agree with you wholeheartedly, Michael. I hate to add insult to injury but I think he could have mulled it over for a week or two… observe her fully and allow feelings to come full circle and enjoy her company for that time. It might then have been a little harder to let her go, but it’s not about him… it’s about her, what she wants. See and determine what she wants. You can’t do that in two lousy hours after a nine year absence. He jumped the gun. Imagine it from her point of view: she managed to survive, lost for all those years, a lifetime, only to finally be reunited with the one person on the planet who had been her guardian, her loving human companion, the one person with the power to ease her suffering or make her final weeks, months a time of comfort and joy… but chose to immediately kill her instead. In a way, that was the worst thing he could have done.
It’s a tough call – we are going through the same decision with a 22-year old cat, except her systems are most definitely shutting down. I think it’s always best to let them pass on their own, unless it’s evident that their quality of life / pain is evident. We will probably lose her tonight… 🙁
The best of luck to you both. I agree but don’t delay euthanasia if there are signs of pain. I did once and I regret it.
As long as she was able to eat and urinate I would have given her a comfy bed and some snuggle pamper time.
Stupid Monster you shoud have give Her the best love that she deserve
At least a month
Fully agree. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Quote: “I wonder if he could have let her live for a while longer. If she was not in pain or there was no sign of her being in pain, why not take her home and give her plenty of love? What’s wrong with that?”
Nothing is wrong with that. Forget the unnecessary tests if Babsy was able to eat, “relieve herself,” and function on her own. For some reason there was a reunion. At least Babsy could have had days, weeks, or months to enjoy a warm home, good meals, comfort and love again…tons of love…after spending half of her life surviving unknown hardships on her own. I think this is the least that she deserved. I would have taken her home and loved her. 😱😠😭☮️☯️💜💜🗝️🐾
Me too again! This was definitely a case where it would have been better to risk the cat dying of natural causes at home rather than being euthanised at a vet’s. To me it seems cruel. An anonymous contributor blamed the RSPCA who have a habit of zealous euthanasia. The owner was not forceful enough to make up his own mind. Perhaps he was pressured.
Breaks my heart. Unbelievable.
Yes, it looks and in my view was the wrong decision. She deserved much more.
Four letters explain it – RSPCA. Well known for pressuring people to euth’ under implied threat of prosecution for neglect. Coercion is their speciality. The RSPCA exploit the AWA frequently. They bully vets/lawyers too. Mike and poor Babsy would not have stood a chance. If Mike had not agreed to ‘euth Babsy, the RSPCA would have seized her and done it themselves.
Ask Sara-Lise Howe and Joe Rich about this sort of behaviour from the RSPCA.
RIP Babsy.
Good point actually. Thanks for your input.
I think he just didn’t want to be bothered. Why not allow her to hospice and die naturally and let her experience love in her last days? She knew him. She wasn’t going to cause any problems with her age and condition. Very sad.
Another visitor thought that the owner was pressured into euthanasia by the RSPCA. It should not have happened. Not then.