Birmingham family reunited with pet cat after seven years
Boots disappeared in 2017 but the RSPCA was able to bring him home thanks to his microchip
And a pet cat that's been missing for seven years has been reunited with his family in Birmingham.
Boots the ginger Tom disappeared in 2017 - but the RSPCA was able to bring him home in time for Christmas after finding him and scanning his microchip.
Boots' owner Mary-Ann said:
“We just couldn’t believe it was him, back after seven and a half years. We had been through such real heartbreak and so we’re just so happy to have him back."
According to the RSPCA Boots had actually stayed in his family’s former neighbourhood where residents fed him without knowing who he belonged to.
Last September, he was reported to the RSPCA after one of his regular feeders moved away.
The RSPCA then discovered contact details when they scanned him for a chip.
Boots was then reunited with his family, more than 2,500 days since he went missing.
Mary-Ann said Boots had settled in immediately with her, partner David and children Ethan, now 19, Mary-Jayne, nine, and Elouise, seven.
“It’s wonderful," Mary-Ann said.
"It’s like he’s never been away. When he came home and I fed him, he just started purring really loudly.
“The other cats just accepted him straight away and he’s claimed the best spot next to the Christmas tree."
An RSPCA spokesperson said:
“We all want the best for our cats and so - as we strive to create a better world for every kind - we’d urge owners who haven’t got their cat microchipped yet to contact their vet to book an appointment.
“Since 10 June it has been compulsory for all owned cats aged over 20 weeks to be microchipped or owners could face a hefty fine. Owners are also required to keep their contact details up-to-date on a pet microchipping database.”