Missing cat found 100 miles away in feral colony
Saturday, 22 August 2026
Warm-up
- Have you ever lost or found a pet? What happened?
- How do people in your area help stray animals?
- What would you like to ask a pet rescue worker?
Vocabulary
- feral
- Living wild and not kept by people.
- colony
- A group of animals living together in one place.
- volunteer
- A person who works without pay to help others.
- microchip
- A small device under a pet’s skin that stores owner details.
- reunite
- To bring people or animals together again after being apart.
- neuter
- To stop an animal having babies through an operation.
- mandatory
- Required by a rule or law; you must do it.
- shelter
- A place or cover that keeps someone safe and warm.
Reading
A cat called Ginge was found in Leeds, almost a year after he went missing from his home in Sunderland. He was about 100 miles (160km) away. Lucy Roche, a volunteer with Cat Action Trust 1977, met him at a feral colony in Garforth.
Roche saw he was very tame, so she took him to the vets. Staff checked his microchip and could reunite him with his owner, Beth, in Sunderland. Ginge stayed at Roche’s home for a night while he waited to be collected.
A video of the reunion was shared on social media, and people online liked the story. Roche said microchipping is vital, and in 2024 it became mandatory for cats.
Volunteers visit feral colonies across Leeds with food, water and shelters. They take cats for care and neutering, and they rehome cats if a place is unsafe. Roche said they get non-stop calls and want to make life better for cats.
Comprehension
- Where was Ginge found after going missing?
- How far from Sunderland was he when found?
- Who helped reunite Ginge with his owner?
- How did staff find Ginge’s owner?
- What help do volunteers give to feral colonies?
Grammar focus
Would like vs like
Use 'would like' for a polite wish or desire now; use 'like' for things you enjoy or prefer. (Examples constructed.)
- I like watching reunion videos about pets.
- A volunteer would like to help more cats.
Grammar exercise
Complete each sentence with the correct form of the verb in brackets.
- A cat owner (like) ___ to see their pet again after a year.
- Volunteers (like) ___ helping feral cats regularly.
- A finder (like) ___ to phone a rescue if they find a lost cat.
- People (like) ___ to see happy endings in reunion stories.
- A volunteer (like) ___ to help more cats next year.
Discussion
- Should microchipping pets be mandatory? Why or why not?
- What would you do if you found a very tame stray cat?
- How can your town support animal rescue volunteers?
- Would you like to adopt a rescue animal? Why or why not?
Vocabulary, reading, and exercises with instant feedback