Stowaway cat reunited with owners

Published on Wednesday 16 December 2009 12:42

A stowaway cat has been reunited with its owners after jumping aboard a ferry bound for Spain.

Sandi, a ginger tom, disappeared from his home in Lee-on-the-Solent, Hampshire, last Thursday, leaving owners Tim and Patricia Austin desperately searching for their pet.

But it wasn't until four days later when a ship hand on board the P&O ferry Pride Of Bilbao spotted the cat on the car deck as the ship was preparing to dock in Bilbao yesterday.

The cat was identified by its microchip and was returned to Portsmouth on board the ferry where he was treated as a VIP guest.

Brian Rees, P&O spokesman, said: "When the ship arrived at Bilbao, one of the ship's crew spotted this ginger-and-white cat on the car deck.

"It's been described as the biggest, soppiest cat and on the return journey it was given its own en-suite cabin with sea view.

"Every lady member of staff has fallen in love with it, making any excuse to check on it, and even the captain has got fluff on his uniform."

Mr Rees said that on arrival in the UK, the cat was handed over to officials from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, who will assess the length of quarantine the cat will require.

Mr Rees added: "Because the cat disappeared on Thursday and the ship sailed on Saturday we can confirm that it has only been out of the country on one of our mini-cruises which may mean Defra can just give it a check over rather than the full six months."

Mr Austin said that he was shocked to hear that Sandi had reached Spain and added that he had feared his pet had been stolen.

He told The Portsmouth News: "We know our cat wouldn't have got into a car or van with strangers voluntarily – even we can't get him into a car.

"We think he got out of the vehicle on the ferry when someone opened the door and he ran.

"P&O have been fantastic. He's been well looked after."