A missing pet has been located some 600 miles from its home - in the Orkney Islands off the north coast of Scotland.
The little black cat, Dexter, disappeared from Ledbury, Herefordshire, in early October last year.
Remarkably, however, the feline eventually showed up in the far north after supposedly hitching a ride with a travelling fairground.
Dexter’s owners, Geoff and Shannon Smith, searched far and wide after she failed to return home and thought she may have taken refuge in a house nearby, reports the Daily Record.
But months passed and there was still no sign of Dexter. Then, in a remarkable twist, the family received a call to say she had been found – in the Orkney Islands.
Shannon said: “We got a call from a vet’s surgery who said an elderly lady has had Dexter for the last two weeks.”
The lady took Dexter – who had been living in her lambing barn – to a vet for a health and chip check and her identity was discovered.
Shannon added: “It shows the importance of a microchip.”
It is believed Dexter may have travelled to the very north of the UK with a fairground. The Mop Fair took place in Ledbury in October – around the same time as Dexter vanished.
The Smiths now face the cost of having Dexter brought home, and the bill could run into the thousands.
Shannon said: “We are looking at potential flights and ways my partner can get there but it’s a lot of money. Dexter is staying with this 85-year-old woman on her farm and eating haggis and square sausage so is super-happy at the moment.”
The woman who found Dexter has told the Smiths she would be happy to keep her.
It is estimated that approximately 100,000 cats go missing in the UK every year, according to pet insurance company Pet Plan.
If your feline goes missing, it is worth contacting local cat shelters and vets who have records of any strays being brought in.
It is also a good idea to microchip your pet to ensure that your details are easily accessed if they go missing and end up at a rescue centre or vet practice.
Depending on their breed, cats can be microchipped from the age of ten weeks. It is a quick and simple procedure and does not hurt, nor does it impact their health in any way.
