The purrfect piece of news: missing Mickey returns after eight years

Thursday 18 January 2018

A family who lost their cat after moving house have finally been reunited with their furry friend – eight years later.

Ginger cat Mickey disappeared without a trace in 2010, leaving the Harvey family clueless as to where their beloved pet had gone, and any details on his wellbeing.

But this week, after nearly a decade of wondering what had happened, Mickey finally came back to his owners.

He was brought into the Cat Action Trust after being found lapping up food left out for hedgehogs. “Stray cats always know to turn up with animal lovers!” the Jersey branch said in a post on social media.

Mickey was luckily microchipped, allowing his owners to be identified and the ginger boy to be brought to his true home. "It was wonderful to be able to reunite Mickey with his owner," a Cat Action Trust spokesperson said, recalling that he was fondly welcomed back by the Harvey family who "gave him a cuddle."

Ella Harvey, told Express that she was still shocked by the prodigal cat’s return. She was still in her school years when he first went missing.

“I can’t quite believe it, I don’t think it has sunk in just yet,” she explained.

“I was only 13 when he went missing and he was only four. Now he is 12 and at first I didn’t recognise him. But he has come home as if nothing happened. It’s just amazing to have him back.”

She thanked Sudi Chiang, the Cat Action Trust and Jersey Village Vets for their help.

While Mickey might be “as chilled as ever” and the family are delighted, there’s someone he will still have to win over: the Harvey’s new feline friend, a six-year-old female ginger cat, adopted one year ago.

Pictured: Cheeky Mickey was found eating food put out for hedgehogs.

She’s apparently “unsure” about her new friend, but the family are hopeful the pair will bond.

The Cat Action Trust lauded Mickey’s story as a lesson to “never give up on your lost cats!”

The news has since attracted hundreds of likes and shares on Facebook – including as far afield as London, Dorset, Bournemouth, Gainsborough and Swansea in the UK.