Cats Chef
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Some reunions feel destined, no matter how impossible the odds may seem. That was the case for Ebi, a cat who vanished from her home in Riverside County, California, in 2015 and was discovered alive, more than seven years later and over 2,000 miles away from where her owner now lives in Tennessee. Her incredible journey is a reminder of resilience, the importance of microchipping, and the quiet hope that pet owners carry even when years pass without answers.
The Day Ebi Disappeared
Ebi wasn’t just any cat — she was a beloved member of the Drnec family. Adopted from the Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center in Riverside, she was a playful calico who enjoyed the comforts of being mostly indoors. But like many curious cats, she had a streak of independence that sometimes drew her outside.
In 2015, Ebi slipped away from home and didn’t return. Her owners, Joe and Leanna Drnec, immediately launched a search. They put up flyers, contacted shelters, and walked the neighborhood calling her name. But as days turned into weeks, the hope of seeing Ebi again began to fade. Life eventually moved forward, though the pain of her absence lingered.
Not long after Ebi’s disappearance, the Drnecs relocated to Bearden, Tennessee, near Knoxville. They brought with them their other cat, Eunice, who provided comfort but could never replace the missing presence of Ebi.
Over the years, thoughts of what might have happened to her surfaced from time to time. Had she been taken in by another family? Was she surviving on her own? Or had something worse happened? Without answers, they could only imagine.
Seven years is a long time in any life, but in the life of a cat, it’s nearly a lifetime. Ebi’s story could have ended there. Yet, in early 2022, fate intervened in a way that no one could have predicted.
Found Against All Odds
Ebi was discovered wandering in downtown Riverside — not far from where she had first gone missing all those years ago. Malnourished but alive, she was picked up and brought to Riverside County Animal Services. Like all incoming strays, she was scanned for a microchip. That scan changed everything.
Her chip revealed her name, her past address, and most importantly, the contact information for her family. Even though the Drnecs had moved to Tennessee, the shelter was able to trace the records and confirm that Ebi had indeed belonged to them. After seven years of uncertainty, they finally had an answer: Ebi had survived.
At this point, the question became how to reunite her with her rightful owner. Shelter chief John Welsh decided that this was a reunion worth making happen, no matter the distance. Because taxpayer funds couldn’t be used to transport personal pets across the country, Welsh personally helped coordinate the logistics — including paying for part of the trip out of his own pocket.
Ebi was carefully prepared for her long journey east. From Ontario International Airport in California, she flew across the country before being driven from Nashville to Knoxville. For a cat who had endured years of hardship, the trip was a final stretch in a much longer odyssey.
A Reunion Years in the Making
When the moment finally came, Joe Drnec could hardly believe it. After years of wondering, he was face-to-face with Ebi again. Though older and thinner, she was unmistakably the same cat he and his wife had once loved and lost in California.
“She had been gone so long, we never thought we would ever see her again,” Joe said, reflecting on the overwhelming joy of her return. For him, the reunion wasn’t just about getting a cat back — it was about regaining a missing piece of his family.
Back home in Tennessee, Ebi settled into her new surroundings. Though she had lived a rough life outdoors, she quickly recognized the comforts of a warm home and steady meals. She even reunited with Eunice, the Drnecs’ other cat, who had aged into her senior years during Ebi’s absence. The sight of both cats together again was nothing short of remarkable.
Ebi’s journey underscores the importance of microchipping pets. Without that small piece of technology, she would have remained just another nameless stray in a shelter. Instead, the chip allowed her identity to be traced and her story to be written with a happier ending.
John Welsh, reflecting on the reunion, said it best: “We like getting animals back to their rightful owners, even if those owners tend to be half the country away.” His words capture the dedication of animal services workers who go above and beyond to give stories like Ebi’s a second chance.
For the Drnecs, the reunion is proof that hope should never be abandoned. Even when years stretch into nearly a decade, miracles can still happen. And for Ebi, who survived on her own for so long, it’s a well-deserved chance at comfort and love for the rest of her days.