Friends Reunited
Cat and owner reunited after five months nearly 300
miles apart
Wednesday 29 September 2010
A cat owner has been reunited with her four-legged
friend after spending five months at opposite ends
of the country.
Owner Olivia Hatcher feared the worst when her cat
Pheonix bolted out of his pen towards a busy
railway line when she was moving from
Farnborough, Hampshire to Middlesborough in
North Yorkshire.
Despite desperate attempts to track down her beloved pet, including spending time back in
Farnborough in the hope that he would come home, Olivia and husband Andy gave up hope.
However, five months later they have now been happily reunited thanks to a microchip.
Pheonix had been taken in by a neighbour and when she took the cat to a vet, he was scanned
for a microchip and Olivia’s details were revealed. Andy made a 10-hour round trip to collect
Pheonix as soon as they heard the news.
Pheonix quickly settled in his new home and back with his family and has been given a clean
bill of health by a vet.
Olivia said: “Pheonix spent the first night back with me sleeping on my pillow, it was wonderful.
“I know I am just so lucky to have him back. Thank goodness I had him microchipped or we
never would have been reunited. I don’t know where he has been but he looks like someone
has been looking after him.”
Press office
Press office direct lines:
0300 123 0244/0288
Fax 0303 123 0099
E-mail:
[email protected]
Website:
www.rspca.org.uk
Duty press officer
(evenings and
weekends)
Tel 08448 222888
and ask for pager
number 828825
Wilberforce Way
Southwater, Horsham
West Sussex
RH13 9RS
Tel 0300 1234 555
Fax 0303 124 0048
Olivia rehomed Pheonix and his sister Mishka more than 10 years ago after they were found
abandoned on an old building site.
As kittens, they were brought in to the RSPCA Millbrook Animal Centre in Chobham where
Olivia was working at the time as a cattery supervisor. She is now working at the RSPCA Great
Ayton Animal Centre in Middlesborough.
The RSPCA encourages owners to have their pets microchipped as it believes it is the most
reliable way of finding your pet if it is lost or stolen. Around half a million animals have been
microchipped in the last five years alone.
The quick procedure places a small chip, the size of a grain of rice, under the animal’s skin.
The owner’s details and a code are stored on the chip and can be revealed by a special
scanner used by RSPCA inspectors and branch staff. For more information log onto
www.rspca.org.uk
-Ends-
Notes to editors
Pictures are available. Please contact the press office on 0300 123 0244/0288 or email
[email protected]
Press office
Press office direct lines:
0300 123 0244/0288
Fax 0303 123 0099
E-mail:
[email protected]
Website:
www.rspca.org.uk
Duty press officer
(evenings and
weekends)
Tel 08448 222888
and ask for pager
number 828825
Wilberforce Way
Southwater, Horsham
West Sussex
RH13 9RS
Tel 0300 1234 555
Fax 0303 124 0048