Charity reunites homeless cat with original owner

Ethan's original owner Ian Haskins said the cat had been reunited with his sister

A cat has been reunited with its owner after spending the last five years living with a different owner.

Tabby Rupert had been taken to the Animals in Distress rescue centre in Ipplepen after his owner had died.

When staff scanned the cat's microchip they discovered he had been registered to a different owner, Ian Haskins.

Mr Haskins told the centre's staff the cat, which he had named Ethan, had been missing for five years.

Mr Haskins said Ethan had gone missing five years ago

Mr Haskins, who lives in Exeter, said he had been "both shocked and over the moon" to hear Ethan had been found.

On being reunited with the ca, he said: "I'm still in shock.

"Ethan is back with his sister now, we've missed him so much."

He thanked the centre staff for finding the missing cat and staff took the opportunity to remind owners to have their pets microchipped.

Rowana Rowan of Animals in Distress said: "Ethan's interim owner, who took him in as a stray, had the best of intentions and cared for him very well.

"However, Ethan's story also shows how important it is to take any stray cats you find to a vets or a rescue to have them scanned for a microchip before taking them in.

"They may well be someone's long lost cat and very missed."

"We are just delighted that this story has a happy ending for both Ethan and Ian," she added.