Cat returns home after 10-year 'adventure'Charlie's owners were shocked when they received a call from the vet saying she had been found safe.7 hrs agoWales

A 13-year-old tabby cat that went missing 10 years ago has found her way back home.

Her owners Lucy and Hannah Robertson were “heartbroken” in 2016 when Charlie, then three years old, went missing.

As an outdoor cat, Charlie would spend her days roaming the streets but one day in April – after recently moving to a new area – she never returned home.

The family spent months looking, never finding any leads.

Hannah, 37, said she moved from Newbridge to Abercarn, in Caerphilly county, a few miles away, 10 years ago.

Within three days, Charlie, who she described as a “bit fiery”, went missing.

“We did have one or two tip-offs… we tried to find her, but we kept missing her,” Hannah said.

“We never lost hope. But sadly, we just couldn’t find her,” she told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast.

Lucy said that, despite asking around, as well as posting on Facebook, there was no sign of Charlie.

“It was heartbreaking. We were scared that she had been knocked over or that she wasn’t around anymore,” she said.

But on 29 July, Hannah was left “gobsmacked” after receiving a call from a veterinary practice in Abercarn saying Charlie had been found.

A local resident had found Charlie living in nearby bushes, feeding the supposed stray for weeks before taking her to the vets, who called Hannah from the number found on the microchip.

The vet was also “really shocked” to find out the cat had been missing for a decade, Hannah said.

The friendly tabby was in great health, her fur was fine and she did not look “dishevelled”.

“She’s been on an adventure,” Hannah said, adding that she guessed “we’ll never know” what happened to Charlie.

Lucy said their beloved pet recognised them “straight away”, describing it as “lovely, because we didn’t expect that”.

“She doesn’t look much different at all – she looks exactly the same as the old photos we have of her,” she said.

Lucy added that it “is a bit of a work in progress” getting her used to living with their other pets, “but we’re definitely getting there”.

However, Charlie is loving the “food and attention,” Lucy said and is just as friendly as she was 10 years ago.

She’s also enjoying the “attention”, Lucy said.

“Right now I feel like she knows she’s a bit of a celebrity.”