A cat has been reunited with its owners after it went missing – 10 years ago.
Feline Forbes, aged 12, was rescued by animal welfare chiefs in Aberdeen who found him looking very thin and with protruding bones.
They scanned Forbes for a microchip and contacted his shocked owners who revealed the cat had been missing since 2011.
Forbes has now been given back to his delighted owners who had given up hope of ever seeing him again.
Owners Neil and Lucy Henderson were devastated when they lost Forbes in March 2011 and spent months searching for him.
But after nine months they gave up hope of ever seeing the cat again, and three years later moved to Edinburgh.
The Scottish SPCA found Forbes just two miles from where he went initially went missing 10 years ago – and is now settling back into life at home with Neil and Lucy.
Neil said: “When Forbes first went missing in March 2011, we were distraught.
“We’d had him from when he was a kitten and we had such a special bond.
“He was such a unique and friendly character, we absolutely adored him.
“Our friend made posters and we went door-to-door in the area we lived in Rosemount.
“We asked people to check garages and sheds as we thought he may have just been locked inside.
“After eight or nine month, we very sadly had to come to the realisation that the worst may have happened.
“About seven years ago, three years after Forbes went missing, my wife and I moved to Edinburgh.
“My wife phoned when I was on the motorway and she told me I had to pull over.
“I was completely unprepared for what I was about to be told and hearing that Forbes had been found left me completely astounded.
“I have to admit that I was completely overcome with emotion and turned the car round immediately to go home.
“We travelled to Aberdeen the next day and when he was brought out, I recognised him immediately.
“Forbes did give me a big cuddle so I’m hopeful that he remembered us.
“Since coming home he has adopted habits he used to have.
“In my younger days I used to stay up late and Forbes would come in the room and start meowing at me until I turned off the video game I was playing and went to bed.
“This was so he could come and cuddle in to me.
“He’s started doing the same thing again which is so heartwarming.
“At the moment, we are just gradually introducing him to our two dogs and two cats.
“He is staying inside while he gets used to everything and the other animals get used to his scent, and vice versa.
“He’s exploring a new room each day.
“This is just the best outcome for us.
“We never thought we would see him again.
“It’s like a closed chapter has just opened up. It’s a dream come true.”
Scotland’s animal welfare charity was called out to the cat after he was spotted in the Ferrier Gardens area of Aberdeen looking very thin with protruding bones.
Animal rescue officer Greg Stevenson scanned the cat and found him to be microchipped.
Greg contacted the phone number on the chip and managed to get through to Forbes’ owners who told him that the cat had been missing for 10 years.
Officer Stevenson said: “I was amazed to hear how long Forbes had been missing for.
“The owners couldn’t believe it but were absolutely over the moon.
“They were just thrilled to hear that Forbes was coming back to them.
“He was found looking rather skinny and was in need of veterinary attention for fleas and mites.
“Forbes was found less than two miles from where he went missing though we have no way of knowing where Forbes had been all this time or what adventures he might have been on.
“We were delighted to be able to reunite Forbes with Neil and Lucy. We know that he is going to have a very happy and relaxing retirement.”
