A FAMILY in Alderholt has had an emotional reunion with their cat – nine months after it went missing.

Angela Morrall, her husband Rupert and their three children had all but given up on their ginger and white pet Garfield, who was just a kitten when it left their home in August last year.

Mrs Morell, who adopted Garfield from the Cats Protection League, delivered leaflets, put up posters and contacted nearby vets' surgeries, but to no avail.

“It was awful,” she said.

“The worst part was that we did not know what had happened to him. I was worried that he was in pain or suffering somewhere.”

Nine months later Theresa Hunt from Somerley spotted a ginger and white moggie on her land and although she was ready to keep him herself she took him to Alderholt and Three Cross veterinary surgeries just to make sure he did not have an owner.

Thanks to the cat’s microchip, which confirmed this was Garfield, the Morell family and their now fully-grown feline have been reunited.

“I was delighted to have him back,” said Mrs Morell.

“We had almost given up hope of ever seeing him again.

“Despite being full of fleas and worms he was fit and healthy. We are just so relieved.”

Vet practice manager Val McCarthy said: “We will never know just what Garfield got up to in those months he was missing, but one thing is for sure - if it hadn't been for the fact that he had been microchipped it is unlikely that he would ever have been reunited with his owner.

“Microchipping only takes five minutes to do, and is a one-off cost for the whole of your pet's life, so please, if any of your pets are not microchipped yet do make it a priority, as it can mean the difference between getting your pet back or losing him or her forever.”