A cat that vanished five years ago has returned to her family after turning up eight miles from her original home. Tiggles disappeared from her owner’s residence in Kenfig Hill, Bridgend county, back in September 2020, when she was only eight months old.

Unexpected Phone Call Brings Joy

Rachel Sutherland, the cat’s owner, received a surprising call from a veterinarian on Wednesday. She initially feared the worst, believing the short-haired tabby had been found deceased. Instead, the news revealed that Tiggles had been located in nearby Brackla and was ready for pickup.

“I just burst into tears,” said Rachel, a restaurant manager. The veterinarian had assumed the cat had only been missing briefly and didn’t grasp the full story.

Family’s Long Search Ends

Following Tiggles’ disappearance, now a six-year-old feline, the family conducted an extensive search. They knocked on neighbors’ doors for months in hopes of finding her. “I didn’t know if she had fallen asleep on someone’s car or had lost her bearings or whether someone had taken a fancy to her,” Rachel explained. She noted that cats often wander to other homes.

The family also worried about potential dangers, such as encounters with badgers or foxes.

Children’s Intuition and Cat’s Condition

When Rachel informed her children, 12-year-old Aidan and six-year-old Emily, about a special surprise, both immediately guessed that Tiggles had returned. “I don’t know how,” Rachel admitted.

No one knows exactly where Tiggles spent the intervening years, but Rachel observed that the cat appears to have been well cared for. “There are no scratches or marks, and her fur is in perfect condition,” she said.

However, Tiggles has sustained an injury affecting her back legs, making movement difficult. Rachel remains optimistic that she will adjust to life with the family’s other pets—two ginger tabbies named Ginger and Ninja.

“I’m hoping she does not escape again; we would like her to be part of the family,” Rachel added.