Norfolk woman reunited with cat who went missing 13 years ago
She was picked up by a charity after being reported as a stray.
A woman in Norfolk has had an emotional reunion with her cat, who went missing 13 years ago.
Gemm Barbieri was living in King's Lynn when Rose, named after Billie Piper's character in Doctor Who, went missing in 2008.
The cat had been at eighth birthday present for her daughter Alicia.
She had always hoped that Rose, who was just one when she went missing, was still alive.
Ms Barbieri said she felt "guilty" when the family decided to move from the town in 2018 "in case she came home and we weren't there for her".
The charity shop worker said she was "stunned" when she received the call to say that, no 14 year-old, Rose had been found.
She said she initially rejected the call from Cats Protection as she didn't recognise the number.
“But it rang again almost immediately so I thought it might be important and should answer,” she said.
“I’ll always be grateful I did!
“I couldn’t believe it when they asked if my cat had gone missing in 2008.
“I just blurted out ‘Have you found Rose?’
“They said a black cat brought in as a stray had been scanned and the microchip showed that she was missing.
“It was Rose.
“I was so stunned, I was shaking.”
Cat Care Assistant, Jessica Hatcher, said: "We admitted a cat as a stray and scanned her as we always do.
"To our joy and surprise, not only was she chipped but she had been logged as missing in 2008! This poor cat had been lost for 13 years.
"We called the number registered to the chip and prayed that it was still in use. When the lady answered, she was over the moon. We were both in tears as she shared her story."
Thankfully, Gemma still had the same mobile number that was registered on the missing cat's microchip when she moved from the family's previous home in Kings Lynn in 2018.
Ms Barbieri said that as soon as she finished work she went to collect her beloved pet.
“As soon I got Rose in the car, she was talking all the way home,” she said.
“She settled almost immediately when we arrived home.
“It was amazing.
“Within an hour she’d eaten, used the litter tray, explored the whole house and was laying purring on her back while I stroked her belly.
“She’s pretty much been purring ever since and has settled in completely.”
She has already been reunited by video call with Alicia, who is now 21 and a student at the University of Derby.