Contributed photo/Olga Heigis, center, and her friend reunite with Olga’s cat Trixie after a five-year separation.
By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor
MEARS — They say cats have nine lives, and a cat named Trixie may be proof of that old adage.
Trixie’s owner recently traveled over 4,000 miles from Germany to Oceana County to be reunited with her beloved feline after they were separated five years ago. It is presumed Trixie survived as a stray the majority of those five years.
But about six months ago, a Montague family found the black cat and took her in. Unfortunately, Trixie did not get along with their other cats, so they brought this mysterious stray cat to Oceana County Animal Friends in Mears, hoping the organization could find her a permanent home.
Contributed photo
Oceana County Animal Friends Director Amy VanderWilk said she took the cat to a veterinary office to be spayed.
The vet discovered that not only was the cat already fixed but she had a microchip. The microchip revealed the cat’s name is Trixie and that her owner Olga Heigis lived in Germany.
After VanderWilk contacted Heigis, she discovered that Heigis used to live in Montague, but moved to Germany in 2020 due to her husband’s job change during COVID-19. Trixie, who lived in Montague with Heigis, vanished a few months before the pet owner moved to Germany.
“Without the microchip, she would not have been returned to her owner,” said VanderWilk.
Thanks to the microchip, a helpful family and a shelter with dedicated volunteers, Trixie and Olga have been reunited. They fly back to Germany Tuesday, July 22.
The pair reunited at the OCAF shelter Monday. “She was talking to her in German, and it was so cute,” said VanderWilk. “It was very emotional.”
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