Whitchurch cat returns from seven-year prowl
Monday 28th February 2011, 6:59PM GMT.
When Parsley the cat popped out to explore the Shropshire countryside in 2004 her owners thought she would be back in a matter of hours.
Seven years on, the adventurous pet has finally been reunited with her Whitchurch owners, who thought they would never see her again when she failed to return.
Amazingly, Parsley was spotted just yards from her former home in Tushingham, near Whitchurch, and taken to the town’s Leonard Brothers Vets because she was believed to be a stray.
Vets checked Parsley’s microchip which confirmed she belonged to Ian and Karen Brownlee.
The daughter of Parsley’s owners, Vicky Barlow, from Malpas, said the family was astonished to have Parsley back after such a long time.
Mrs Barlow said: “It’s absolutely unbelievable to have Parsley back, we had all mourned her. The vets rang and said: ‘We’ve got her here’. and I said: “But she’s been missing for seven years.”
“I was totally astounded she made it back.
“Some kind person must have looked after her because she seems so well.”
Parsley’s independent streak might be to blame for the seven-year hiatus, she added, because the cat was a stray before the family took her in.
“We had her microchipped and I suppose this shows how well the system works.
“We’re over the moon, it’s the best news ever.”
Parsley’s whereabouts from 2004 to 2011 will probably remain a mystery, but Mrs Barlow added she would be fascinated to know exactly what the family pet had been up to.
By Tom Johannsen
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Probably got fed up with the food at the family that she adopted around the corner in 2004 and decided to come back to see whether there were better pickings to be had from her original “owners”.
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Such a wonderful and heartwarming story.
It gives hope to all those who lose their their precious cats.
I am so so happy for you -let’s hope Parsley lives for a long THYME! (Sorry!)
Chris G
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Nice to see a happy ending,it shows it’s worthwhile having cats and dogs micro-chipped.
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Wow, I don’t think I would be so kind on the person that’s been looking after him for 7 years.
Only cat people think it’s acceptable to find a lost pet and think I know I’ll keep it. If they had taken him to a vet he would have re-united with his rightful owners 7 years ago!
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