The 15 year old ginger cat named Dixie disappeared in 1999. Her owners assumed that she’d been killed by a car, but much to their amazement, after nine long years, Dixie was found less than half a mile from her Birmingham home.

A concerned resident had called the animal charity to report a thin and disheveled cat that had been in the area for a few months. The RSPCA animal collection officer that came to collect the cat scanned her microchip and confirmed that it was Dixie.

The cat was returned to her owners, Alan and Gilly Delaney, within half an hour.

“In 29 years of working for the RSPCA I have never seen anyone so excited and happy as Mrs Delaney,” Pittaway said. “It made my day to return Dixie to her owners.”

The couple were “overjoyed” to be reunited with their missing cat after so many years.

“Dixie’s personality, behavior and little mannerisms have not changed at all,” said Gilly Delaney. “We don’t think she has stopped purring since she came back through the door.”

The RSPCA hope the story will encourage owners to have their pets microchipped.

The news conference was to discuss the couples suspicious disappearance! You see, their daughter, Angela, hadn’t heard from her parents for a few days and after going to their house and discovering their door unlocked, the dog home alone and that their car was missing she called the cops to report that her parents were missing.

The missing couple had decided to take a spur of the moment vacation. They’d tried to call their daughter to let her know what they were up to but they were unable to reach her. They said that they had contacted a neighbor to care for their dog and that the door being unlocked was an accident.

The couple feel bad about worrying their daughter, however, I’m sure it will be a tale that within time they’ll all be able to laugh about!