Missing cat reunited with owner after six years
Lucky cat Bert is now back at home with his family.
A cat rescued from a demolition site in Surrey has been reunited with his owner six years after he went missing.
Volunteers from Cats Protection's Epsom, Ewell & District Branch pulled 10-year-old Bert from the grounds of a former hotel which was due to be bulldozed.
Workmen who contacted the charity reported that the cat had been living as a stray in the hotel grounds in Lower Brookham, Surrey, and were worried that he might get hurt when the demolition work began.
However, a routine scan for a microchip revealed that Bert did in fact have an owner - living 35 miles away in Ardingly, Sussex. Acting swiftly on their discovery, the charity volunteers contacted the owner to ensure the pair were reunited.
Owner Kim Harris, and her son Joshua, 10, were stunned when they got the call from the Cats Protection having feared Bert may have died after going missing six years ago.
Kim said: “I was absolutely gob-smacked, and couldn’t stop shaking. When Bert first went missing we searched everywhere for him, put up posters and contacted animal rescue centres but we got no clues at all.
“As time went past, I did fear the worst and it would cross my mind that he had been hit by a car. But there was always a flicker of hope, and when we went walking in the woods near our home, I would always call out his name.
“We went that evening to collect him, and it was wonderful to see him. He couldn’t stop purring and me and Joshua was so thrilled to take him home. Since then, Bert has been sleeping on Joshua’s bed and he seems just as happy to be home as we are to have him back.”
Cats Protection’s Epsom, Ewell & District Branch Co-ordinator Helen Fisher said: “We got a call from staff at the demolition site who said the building was due to be levelled. They were very concerned about a stray cat on the site and that he might get hurt.
“We went and picked him up and scanned him for a microchip. We were as stunned and delighted as his owner when we rang the number and discovered he was a much-loved family pet who had been missing a long time.
“We were thrilled to be able to reunite Bert with his family. It just goes to show why microchipping is so important. Thousands of cats go missing every year, and half never return home. The chances are greatly increased if your cat is microchipped.”
Two independent vets have launched a podcast to help owners strengthen their bond with pets. Dr Maggie Roberts and Dr Vanessa Howie, who have worked in both veterinary practice and major charities, are keen to use their experience to enable people to give pets a better life.
