A long lost cat has been found - after 11 years

Toby the cat has finally returned to his family after more than a decade

Christmas is a magical time of year and one family has received their own Christmas miracle not long before the big day.

A family in Warwickshire thought they'd never see their cat Toby again when he disappeared in 2012 after they moved to a new home in Nuneaton.

However, the long lost pet has now been returned to his owners an incredible 11 years after he went missing.

He was found by a woman who lived about five miles away.

She contacted Coventry Cats Protection charity and by checking his microchip, a small device under the cat's skin that holds contact details for the owners, the charity was able to trace the family's details on a database.

"I never thought in a million years I'd see him again," Toby's owner Justine said.

"[My son Charlie] was about 12 when Toby went missing, and he was heartbroken when we realised he probably wasn't coming back."

Toby's grateful family picked him up on Sunday and said he's already settled back in.

Toby back in 2009, just a few years before he went missing

"Toby was collected and will no longer have to scavenge for food and sleep in a cold bin store," Coventry Cats Protection charity co-ordinator Wendy Harris said.

However, he has had to get used to a new addition to the family -a King Charles Cavalier dog called Bernie.

"I can't believe he survived all this time, the odds were stacked against him, but here he is," Justine said.

"He doesn't seem different at all, he's obviously been cared for and fed by somebody, I just wish he could tell us what happened.

"We'll keep him in now for six to eight weeks and then hope he stays."

We want to know - have you ever lost then found something you thought was gone forever? If so, why not leave us a comment below.