He has the "stray gene"

Missing cat back home after three years

After an adventurous three years in a foreign country, "Pancho" is now back with his owner.(Bild: Tierschutz Austria)

This animal story touches the heart: tomcat "Pancho" was missing for three years. Now he is cuddling again with his owner in Lower Austria.

A tomcat had burns when he was found in Vienna-Favoriten. "The injuries indicated that he had been in the engine compartment of a car," said an animal keeper. The purring patient was routinely checked for a chip at the animal shelter in Vösendorf.

Owner found thanks to chip
And indeed: the cat had been registered as missing for three years. However, contact with the owner was quickly established. And Sabine Weiss from Großenzersdorf, district of Gänserndorf, was happy - she was able to embrace "Pancho" again after such a long time.

Pacho's" injuries were treated at the animal shelter. This is when the chip was discovered, which was used to locate his owner.(Bild: Tierschutz Austria)

Already on three adventure tours
"As a former street cat, he is drawn to faraway places every few years," smiles the animal lover, who also has a dog and four horses in addition to cats. In 2013, "Pancho" - just under two years old at the time - was taken in by Weiss from the care of an animal welfare organization. Since then, he has been "rehomed" three times. "The first time he was found again in Fischamend, then once in Vienna, just like now again," says Weiss, explaining that the adventurous cat apparently likes to travel unnoticed in cars, just like in his previous life.

"Panco" has visibly aged over the three years. He now has health problems and needs heart drops.

Besitzerin Sabine Weiss

Injuries as a lesson for "Pancho"?
However, "Pancho" now has more than ten years under his (feline) belt. And he has to pay tribute to the stray life. "Perhaps his current injuries have taught him a lesson," hopes owner Weiss.