WFAA-TV

FORT WORTH – “Hercules” the cat looks pretty docile inside his temporary home at an animal shelter in Fort Worth. 

“He definitely doesn’t look like he’s missed too many meals in there,” said Keane Menefee, Fort Worth Animal Shelter. “He’s a healthy, beautiful cat.”

Somebody loved him.

Somebody “chipped” him.

But imagine their surprise when a scan of the cat’s microchip told animal control officers “Hercules” was actually from St. Louis, Missouri.

How he got here is anyone’s guess.

“He got loose from whoever adopted him from the animal sanctuary,” Menefee surmised. “[He] went into someone else’s backyard.  They took him in as a pet and more than likely moved here to Fort Worth.”

But Hercules might not get to stay in Fort Worth, even if someone claims him here.

The Missouri shelter is still the rightful owner because his owners did not update his microchip information.

“You have to remember that the ID and information is only as good as the most recent updates,” said Menefee.

The Missouri shelter will try to reunite “Hercules” with his adopted family.

But for now, the cross-country kitty is enjoying at least one of his nine lives in Cow Town.

News 8’s Macie Jepson and Justin Farmer contributed to this report.