A cat named Charlie has returned to her family in Great Britain ten years after vanishing as a three-year-old pet in 2016, BBC News reported.
The surprise reunion occurred after a veterinary clinic contacted the cat's second owner, Lucy, on her 30th birthday on July 29. A concerned passerby had fed the stray cat for several weeks before bringing her to the clinic, where staff scanned her microchip and retrieved the family's contact details.
Microchip implants are small electronic devices placed under an animal's skin that contain a unique identification number. When scanned by veterinarians or rescue workers, the number links to a database of owner details, serving as a permanent method to identify lost pets.
Search and disappearance
Hannah Robertson, 37, who owns Charlie together with Lucy, said the cat disappeared just three days after the family moved to a new town in 2016. Charlie was three years old when she went missing.
The family conducted a search that lasted several months. They put up posters, posted messages on social media networks, and searched nearby areas, but could not find the animal. Robertson admitted that they eventually feared Charlie had been killed by a vehicle or had passed away.
Reunion and adjustment
After receiving the call from the veterinary clinic, the owners went to collect Charlie. Lucy said the cat recognized her owners right away upon seeing them again. She added that Charlie had not changed at all over the decade and looked exactly like she did in old family photos.
Although the owners believe they will never discover where Charlie spent the last ten years, Lucy said the cat had simply gone on an extended adventure. Charlie is now adjusting to life alongside the family's other pets.
Lucy reported that Charlie is receiving plenty of food and affection in her home. She noted that the pet is enjoying the attention and appears to realize she has become something of a local celebrity.
Similar animal returns
Charlie's return follows another case involving a lost pet in Europe. A missing cat named Filou previously returned to his home in France on his own, traveling a distance of 250 kilometers from another country.
