A cat that was missing for five years has been reunited with its owner after being found on an offshore oil rig.
Workers at the oil rig contacted the Scottish SPCA on Thursday after they found the animal in a shipping container originally from Peterhead.
On Friday, staff from the Scottish animal welfare charity collected the microchipped cat, after they were flown back to the mainland by helicopter.
The cat is believed to have been living as a stray around Peterhead prison in Aberdeenshire.
Commenting on the rescue, SPCA animal rescue officer Aimee Findlay said she had “no idea how the cat ended up” in the container – but it had been nicknamed One-eyed Joe by the prison officers who have been feeding him for five years.
She added: “After checking him for a microchip, it turns out his real name is Dexter,” she said.
“We are so glad that he was well looked after for the time he was missing but we’re even more delighted to be able to reunite him with his original owner, thanks to his microchip being up to date.”
According to local residents, the cat has chosen to sleep at the prison, where staff “fuss over” him and he is “much loved”.
The charity urged anyone who finds an injured animal or an animal in distress to contact its helpline on 03000 999 999.
