2009-09-16 04:55:50
A missing cat has been found almost 500 miles away from his Scottish home, more
than a year after he went missing.
Sampson was handed in to a vet centre in Plymouth, Devon, on Sunday - 478 miles
away from Penicuik in Midlothian.
The cat, who had been thought to be a stray in Plymouth, was identified by a
micro-chip, and will now be reunited with owner Linda Jansen.
Ms Jansen said: "Forget the Proclaimers, my cat really did walk 500 miles."
She said: "I have no idea how he travelled so far. He may have been trying to
get home but was walking in the wrong direction."
Ms Jansen and her two daughters Kirsten, 12, and Lauren, 16, first rescued
Sampson from a cat sanctuary in the Borders.
She said: "A lot of people knew him. He was such a character and really was the
man of the house, it was so strange when he went missing and we couldn't find
him."
She had given up hope of seeing her the cat again and even crossed his name off
at his vet.
Then on Sunday she received a call from the Woodlands Veterinary Surgery in the
Devon town.
'Shock and elation'
She said: "I couldn't sleep at all after I got the call. I had given up on
seeing him again. The odd thing is that he is a very bad traveller, he always
gets car sick when he travels so I can't imagine him lasting on a long road
trip like that."
Because of the distances involved Ms Jansen was unsure how to bring Sampson
home and approached Edinburgh-based Eagle Couriers to find out about shipping
charges.
After hearing the full story the firm then offered to transport the cat for
free.
Director Fiona Deas said: "His is one of the most amazing pet stories I have
ever heard. I don't suppose we'll ever find out how the animal ended up on the
south coast of England, but we can make sure it gets home safely.
"As an animal lover myself I can't even begin to imagine the kind of shock and
elation the owner must be feeling at the moment."