Missing moggie reunited with owners THREE years after disappearing

The Smiths from Bishopbriggs had been looking for their beloved ginger and white cat since he went missing in October 2012.

At the time, the Herald put out an appeal online to help trace Lionel and his owner Louise even set up a website – www.findlionel.com – as well as a Twitter address for information.

But despite this, tirelessly handing out leaflets, putting up posters and spreading the word, there was no news of their missing feline friend.

Then out of the blue last week they received a phone call from a local vet to say he had been found safe and well and was waiting patiently to go home!

His family were stunned to discover he had been looked after by a family just half a mile away from their home.

Bishopbriggs Veterinary Centre posted on its Facebook page: “Thanks to some kind members of the public, our receptionist Liz and nurse Gemma, and the insertion of a microchip, Lionel was reunited with his owners after three and a half years of being missing.”

The Glasgow branch of the Cat’s Protection charity had also appealed for Lionel’s return.

A member of the charity said: “This good news story will give hope to everyone who has a missing cat.

“Lionel had recently started to visit a family who knew he wasn’t a resident cat from their area so they took him to a vet to be scanned.

“Thanks to this, he was reunited back home. His family were stunned but absolutely delighted.

“An extensive search of the area surrounding his home and a campaign publicising his disappearance at the time was unsuccessful but they never gave up hope.

“It is a wee reminder to everyone about the importance of microchipping which increases the chances of a missing cat being reunited with its family.”