Cat reunited with family after fireworks scare

A cat that ran away from its home after being startled by fireworks on Bonfire Night has been reunited with her family after being found 40 miles (64.3km) away on an industrial estate in Kent.

After Primrose disappeared from her home in Dover, her owners spent months searching for her, putting up posters and posting on social media, before they lost hope.

But seven months later, their six-year-old pet was spotted on an industrial estate in Maidstone, looking tired and hungry.

A member of the public took her to Pennard Vets in Allington, where the team scanned Primrose's microchip and contacted her owners, Robert and Debbie Poile.

They collected her and took her home, where she has settled back in with the family, including their three other cats and miniature dachshund, Slinky.

Debbie Poile said: "Primrose is a very affectionate cat but can be timid and hates fireworks.

"We were devastated to lose her on Bonfire Night. We spent weeks searching for her but eventually came to the point where we thought we would never see her again."

She said that receiving the call from the veterinary practice was "unbelievable".

"When we collected Primrose, she looked surprisingly well, although she'd lost a bit of weight," she added.

Primrose and Slinky had always been inseparable, she said, adding: "He was just as upset as we were when she went missing, so it's also brilliant to see them back together again.

"If she could speak, there's no doubt she would have an amazing story to tell."

Registered veterinary nurse Chris Guscott said: "When Primrose first arrived at the practice, she was hungry and nervous, but otherwise in good health.

"We'll never know what adventures she's had over the past seven months, but cats are resilient and adaptable and are often able to hunt for food when they need to."

Guscott said it showed why microchipping pets was important, adding: "We frequently see cats that have gone missing or have been injured.

"A registered microchip greatly improves the chances of identifying the animal and contacting its owner."

She also urged owners to keep their details updated on the microchip database.

Microchipping has been a legal requirement for cats in England since 2024.

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