Cat walks 190 miles home
A cat that went missing on holiday made its way 190 miles, back to within a mile of its home in Florida, USA.
Four-year-old Holly escaped her owners, Jacob and Bonnie Richter, during a road trip to Daytona International Speedway, after being scared by fireworks.
The couple immediately alerted rescue agencies, put up flyers and spent days searching for Holly, only to return home without their beloved cat.
It was two months later when Palm Beach resident Barb Mazzola spotted an exhausted looking cat in her garden - a mile away from the Richter's home.
"She was so skinny, so so thin, all bones and weak - and she could hardly walk," said Ms Mazzola. "She was pitiful. She just stood there, ready to collapse."
After rushing to feed the cat she had named Cosette, Ms Mazolla spent the next week trying to coax her into a carrier to take to a vet.
When she was finally successful, Cosette was scanned for a microchip, which happened to match with the Richter's missing cat Holly.
The Ritcher's said they couldn't believe the news; Holly had travelled about 190 miles in 62 days.
Mrs Richter explained that when her husband opened the cage, Holly climbed out and went straight into his arms for a cuddle.
"It was quite a journey for this little girl," he said. "We just can't believe she came home."
Two independent vets have launched a podcast to help owners strengthen their bond with pets. Dr Maggie Roberts and Dr Vanessa Howie, who have worked in both veterinary practice and major charities, are keen to use their experience to enable people to give pets a better life.
