A black and white cat from France has been reunited with his owners after a year-long disappearance and an incredible 1,200-mile journey. The cat, missing from his home in Calais, traveled through Italy, crossed the English Channel, and ended up in Shropshire, England.
The adventurous feline was nicknamed Pierre by the vets at Southwater Veterinary Group in Telford, where he was treated after his arrival on April 7. His real name is Ushuaia. It is believed he traveled hidden in the back of a haulage lorry, although no one knows exactly when he got on board.
After being brought to the vet clinic, staff conducted a health check and traced his owners using his microchip. Because Pierre was registered in a French database, the vets had to contact several animal health authorities before they could provide treatment.
Rachel Harvey, the practice manager, said it was a surprise to find Pierre with no clear origin or explanation for how he ended up in the lorry. “Thankfully, he was microchipped, and we discovered he was registered in France. After some effort, we located his owner and communicated with her using Google Translate,” she said.
Nicole Souillard, Pierre’s owner, quickly made arrangements to bring him home. The cat spent nearly two weeks in isolation at the vet’s office and then two weeks in quarantine at Dover before being reunited with his family.
Harvey called the reunion “the happiest ending we could have hoped for.” She added that Pierre returned home safe and healthy, with plenty of stories to share. The experience also highlighted the importance of microchipping pets and keeping contact details up to date.
During his stay, Pierre adapted well to the vet’s care and enjoyed plenty of cuddles. However, Harvey admitted there was “a hint of sadness” among the staff when he finally left, as they had grown fond of the curious traveler.
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