A 13-year-old tabby cat named Charlie has returned home after being missing for 10 years. Her owners, Lucy and Hannah Robertson, were devastated in 2016 when Charlie, then three years old, vanished from their home in Abercarn, Wales.
Charlie, an outdoor cat, disappeared in April 2016 shortly after the family moved to a new area. Despite months of searching and putting up posters, the family found no leads. Hannah Robertson, 37, described the cat as "a bit fiery" and recalled that they had a few tips but always narrowly missed finding her.
"We never lost hope. But sadly, we just couldn't find her," Hannah told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast. Lucy Robertson added that the prolonged absence was "heartbreaking," and they feared the worst, such as an accident or that Charlie was no longer alive.
On July 29, the family received an unexpected call from a veterinary practice in Abercarn. Charlie had been found. The reunion occurred on Lucy's 30th birthday, a coincidence that made the event even more remarkable.