A missing cat has been reunited with his stunned owners - after more than six years. The RSPCA - who found 'Raffi' injured in a garden five miles away from where he was last seen - shared details of the heart-warming story which will give hope to all those currently searching for missing pets.
Black and white Raffael - known for short as Raffi - disappeared from his home in Old Trafford, Manchester, shortly before Christmas in 2016. Despite endless searching in the months and years that followed he was never found, and Mustafa Javed and his family concluded he had most likely died.
Mr Javed said they even held a 'burial' ceremony for him to 'try and bring about some sort of closure' for the children, Maryam, Ibraheem and Khadeeja, who were only aged seven, six and three at the time.
He said they were devastated at Raffi's loss - and recalled how they searched for him in all weathers and even set up Facebook groups. But the day they thought would never come did, when on January 17 RSPCA inspector Rachel Henderson was called to a property in Longsight after the charity had been contacted about an injured cat found in a garden.
Inspector Henderson scanned Raffi and discovered he was microchipped and registered to the Javed's property about five miles away.
Mr Javed's family own a garage and believe Raffi may have ended up in Longsight after climbing into one of the cars then getting out unseen at the other end. The RSPCA said he's thought to have been living on the streets as a stray ever since.
Raffi is now settling in back at home in Old Trafford after being treated at the RSPCA's Greater Manchester Animal Hospital for an abscess on his back. The family, who adopted Raffi as a young adult cat, said they hope his story would inspire owners to get their pets microchipped.
"My children, Maryam, Ibraheem and Khadeeja were only seven, six and three at the time and they were devastated when Raffi went missing," said Mr Javed. "He was a clever cat, he wasn't the sort that would just wander off. He always stayed near the house, so it was the pain of not knowing what had happened to him that was the worst part.
"I remember it was freezing cold at the time but we searched for him in all weathers, we'd go out walking in our wellies, we literally looked for months and months, setting up Facebook groups and going from house to house in the local area.
"I was travelling back to the UK from abroad at the time when my brother rang me to say Raffi had been found. We couldn't believe it. The children were so excited, it's all they could talk about.
"I think the whole family was stunned and shocked. We'd been through the grieving process and had even had a burial for him to try and bring about some sort of closure, so to hear that he'd been found alive after all this time, it really was a lot to take in."
Raffi is also now slowly getting to know another cat, Marshmallow, who the family adopted about four years after he went missing.
"More often than not when I pick up a stray cat, the animal isn't microchipped which is very frustrating, especially when you suspect the cat is owned and is probably someone's much loved pet and you want to be able to return them home," said Insp Henderson, who also thanked the concerned homeowner who reported injured Raffi.
"I was shocked at how long he'd been missing for, but delighted to be able to let Mustafa and the rest of his family know the good news. It's obviously been an emotional time for them - they'd grieved and understandably moved on in the years since - but seeing the joy on their faces now their much-loved pet is back is something I will remember for a long time."
Mr Javed added: "We wish Raffi could talk and tell us his story.
"When we picked him up from the animal hospital he looked at us as if to say 'where have you been all these years?' We get the feeling he knows where he is and it's amazing he's safe, he's well, he's back and we get a chance to have him with us again.
"We’d also like to think his story inspires other people to microchip their animals and gives hope to those whose pets are missing."
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