FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Yes. If you took him in believing he was a stray or abandoned and you have him scanned and return him, you're eligible for the full $10,000 reward. We don't blame people for caring for a cat in good faith.

Yes. The challenge is open worldwide. If your tip leads to recovery, you don't need to travel to the US or physically recover the cat yourself. Remote tips with strong evidence are eligible for the full reward.

Note: International winners may be subject to 30% U.S. tax withholding unless a tax treaty reduces this amount.

Priority is determined by timestamp AND evidence quality. A well-documented tip submitted later may receive higher reward allocation than an earlier vague tip. If tips are substantially identical, the first submission receives priority.

Photos, veterinary records, screenshots of social media posts, witness statements, security footage, property records, or other documentation supporting your claim. The stronger your evidence, the more valuable your tip.

You can submit tips anonymously, but to claim the reward you must provide verifiable identity and contact information. We cannot pay anonymous winners.

Take the cat to any vet or shelter for a free microchip scan. If the chip number is 981020013910***, it's Bhuja. If not, you've helped verify it's not him (which is still valuable information).

Indefinitely, until Bhuja is found. The owner reserves the right to modify or terminate the challenge with 30 days' notice.

Connecticut law recognizes microchip registration as proof of ownership. Refusal to return a microchipped pet may constitute theft. The owner will involve law enforcement and pursue all legal remedies. The person refusing return will NOT receive the reward.

Yes! An additional $1,500 reward is available to the veterinary clinic or shelter that performs the identifying microchip scan.

Please submit any information you find. You're eligible for the reward even if your employer was inadvertently involved in Bhuja's disappearance. We're looking for information, not assigning blame.

Yes! but first please check the FAQs and Terms and Conditions (at the bottom of the "How it Works" page) to make sure your question isn't answered there. If you still have a question, use the "Submit a tip" form and let us know. We have to prioritize tips for a response, but will do our best to reply to relevant and unanswered questions as soon as we can.

No. Methodology sharing is optional and does NOT impact reward eligibility. However, we encourage OSINT researchers to share techniques to benefit the community.

The $10,000 will be distributed among contributors based on the value and timing of each contribution. The owner's decision on distribution is final.

The reward is contingent on microchip verification, which provides absolute proof of identity. Payment is made only after confirmed recovery. The owner has documented four years of continuous search efforts and significant resources already expended. This is a genuine effort to find a beloved family member.