Missing cat reunited with owner 11 years later, thanks to microchip

TAMPA, Fla. (FOX 13) - Niki Bradshaw was reunited with her cat Tuesday after being apart for 11 years.

“It was incredible. I thought the cat was gone forever,” she said. 

Eleven years ago, Bradshaw was in the middle of moving and a friend was watching the cat.  Back then, it was named 'Keyan.' She says Keyan was able to escape and was never seen again. 

It turns out, someone had taken Keyan in, changed her name to 'Mittens,' and cared for her all this time.

“Here it is, 11 years later, my mom gets a note in the mail yesterday,” Bradshaw said.

Mittens and two other cats were surrendered to the Pet Resource Center in Hillsborough County. Workers there scanned for a microchip -- and to their surprise, they got a hit. 

“The kitty was in the kennel just waiting for me to come get her,” Bradshaw said.

“That’s exactly why we have microchips here because we want to reunify pets with their owners,” offered Pet Resource Center manager Jennifer Groff.

“This does not happen every day," Bradshaw added. "God gives us miracles."