I recently adopted a spayed female Maine Coon mix from a rescue program in upstate New York. I discovered a four digit tatoo inside her left ear--"6156" She is very timid and may have been abused. Is there any meaning to the tatoo?

-- Anonymous, May 29, 2000

Answers

Wow, that is so frightening. Could she possibly have been in some medical research program? I'm really anxious to know what others think. Hope she blossoms under your care.

-- Anonymous, May 30, 2000

It sounds like she may belong to someone. Pet owners can have those tatoos put in by their vets, or a microchip can be put under their skin and the shelters can scan them to see if they have the chip, and see who they belong to according to those numbers. Then, they are usually reunited with their previous owner.

-- Anonymous, May 31, 2000

The mystery of the tatoo has been solved--It was used for identification purposes by the animal sanctuary where my cat was kept for awhile.

-- Anonymous, May 31, 2000