Ocean Springs neighborhood reunites with pet cat after three years

Two families on Meadowview Circle that thought they lost their neighborhood cat for good a few years ago just had a heartwarming reunion three years in the making.

Bella the Cat is 17 years old and calls the Ferrell and Speese households her home.

When Bella went missing, both Jennifer Ferrell and Jana Speese assumed it was Bella’s natural time to go.

“Bella was always a free spirit. She roamed from our house to her house., said Ferrell. “After several days of her not coming back we got really concerned, thought she’s older, maybe she wandered off into the woods and died.”

Ferrell never thought someone picked her up or that Bella could survive on her own during that time.

“I got a call from Jennifer whenever she got the call, I was just in disbelief,” said Speese.

“Yea, I had to call her. This deserves a phone call not a text.”

The two say everyone on their street is excited to have Bella back home.

This reunion was made possible by a good samaritan bringing Bella to a local veterinarian to check for a microchip.

“We always tell the public if you find a stray or you have a pet you’ve been feeding at your house and you’re wondering if they have a chip, bring them by,” said Dr. Chris Duke. “We’ll scan them, I think all shelters and clinics are open to help you that way.”

Dr. Chris Duke is a partner at Bienville Medical Center.

He tells us microchipping became more common following Hurricane Katrina.

“We didn’t have a lot of interest in microchips prior to 2005. After the destruction of Katrina, they came to realize they needed another identification method.”

Dr. Duke says pet owners should remember to update microchip information if they move. He says remembering to update an address or phone number can be the difference between a pet returning home.

“I adopted her from the Humane Society of South Mississippi a couple years after Katrina,” said Ferrell. “Without the microchip, we would have not got her back. Had I changed my number in the last 17 years, we would not have got her back.”

Speese says Bella is returning to her normal self following her three-year adventure.

“She’s been doing good. She’s 17 so she’s been sleeping a lot. She’s still been fairly active, eating good. Putting a bit of weight on because she was pretty skinny when she was turned in.”

And of course we had to ask Bella herself how she feels about being home.

“Meow. Meow,” said Bella.

“She’s made herself right back at home. I think she remembers the house and all of us. She’s made herself right back with us,” Speese says.