Cat reunited with family after seven-year absence

A cat, missing for over seven years, has been reunited with his owners. Boots disappeared from his home in Birmingham in 2017, and his family had been convinced they would never see him again, particularly after they moved away. The ginger tom, who had been living as a stray, was located in his former neighbourhood by the RSPCA. The organization managed to reunite him with his family before Christmas after scanning his microchip. Owner Mary-Ann Lloyd commented that the family had endured “such real heartbreak” and were extremely pleased to have him back. Boots had been frequenting his family’s former neighbourhood, where residents, unaware of his ownership, had been feeding him. He was reported to the RSPCA following the relocation of one of the individuals who regularly fed him. An RSPCA animal rescue officer successfully captured him using a humane trap, subsequently contacting his owners after scanning his microchip. The officer stated that it was “very rare” to be able to reunite a lost cat with its owner after such a long time. Since June, it has been a legal requirement for cats in England to be microchipped by the time they are 20 weeks old. Ms Lloyd stated that Boots had settled back in immediately with her partner David and three children. “It’s wonderful,” she 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.” The family initiated a search when Boots disappeared, putting up posters and conducting door-to-door inquiries, but after hearing nothing, they feared he might have been killed. However, when they moved away, they ensured the microchip company had their new details. “You always have that little bit of hope,” Ms Lloyd added. “But you never really think that you’re going to see them again.” For updates from BBC Birmingham, access BBC Sounds, Facebook, X, and Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external sites. Information regarding our approach to external linking is available.