Devon couple find missing cat after seeing him on TV

The couple adopted Tigger as a stray 12 years ago

A South Devon couple have been reunited with their missing cat after seeing him on BBC Spotlight.

Mike and Marilyn Chard from Bovisand lost their one-eyed cat Tigger back in October.

He was taken in by Gables Dogs and Cats Home in Plymouth but because he was not micro-chipped, his owners could not be contacted.

The couple spotted Tigger on TV when he was seen being held by the general manager at the rescue centre.

Tigger has now been microchipped

When he failed to return home three months ago, Mr Chard said they thought their pet had "gone off to die".

The couple adopted the stray 12 years ago when he walked through their cat flap with one eye and a bent tail.

Mr Chard said: "We'd gone out for the day and when we came back he wasn't here, which is not unusual, but he never goes for more than hour.

"He hadn't been himself for maybe ten days and was due a vet appointment but there was nothing you could put your finger on.

"Apparently when he was out that day he must have had an epileptic fit and somebody found him the next day semi-conscious and took him to the RSPCA, who gave him to Gables. That's all we know."

The cat had been nicknamed 'Bovi-Mort' during his stay at the charity, but the couple said they were "100% certain it was him from the photographs".

Mrs Chard said: "He was called Bovi because of Bovisand and Mort because they were thinking of putting him to sleep."

Mr Chard said: "We were there when Gables opened because we couldn't wait. They were over the moon he was going back to his owners.

"He's purring all the time. It's taken four or five hours of being back here before he got used to where he was. I think he's just about back to normal."

Tigger has now been microchipped so he can be reunited with Mike and Marilyn if he ever goes missing again.