A mother has spoken of her joy after being reunited with her cat, almost five years after it went missing.
Sally Tupping, who is recovering from breast cancer, was heartbroken when 15-month-old Max disappeared in 2008.
She put up posters and pleaded for information about him.
Her daughter Sophie, now eight, was also devastated but she never gave up hope of seeing ginger Max again.
Now she has been reunited with the purr-fect moggy, who was taken to Raystede Centre for Animal Welfare 15 miles away in Ringmer, near Lewes.
He had been living as a stray in the area and a family decided to take him in.
Because Max was micro-chipped, staff at Raystede were able to reunite the pair.
Mrs Tupping, 37, of St John’s Road, Seaford, said: “I had moved but the one thing that I had not changed was my mobile number and that was on Max’s microchip.
“I am so elated. I got Max as a kitten after another cat had died.
“He would go outside, give me a look and come back in. He would give me little kisses.
“But he went out one day and never came back.
“Just last week I found some old pictures of him and never gave up hope.”
Settling back in
Describing the moment she was reunited with Max, she said: “He started kissing me again.
“He has done nothing but purr and is really settling in.
“Sophie loves him and he is getting to know our other cats.
“After having breast cancer I feel this is a good thing happening to me.”
Jane Moore, head of the cattery at Raystede, said: “We were so delighted to be able to reunite Max with his owner after such a long time.
“It really does show the importance of getting stray cats checked for microchips when you find one.
“It’s also really important to keep your details on the microchip up-to-date.
“Whenever you move house or change your telephone number, let the micro-chipping company know.
“It could really be the difference between being re-united with your pet or not.”
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