A cat from Harrogate has been found after four months in Poppleton, more than 20 miles from his home. One theory is that he caught the train..

Jasper, the black cat, lived with his owners in Harrogate, who adopted him from Harrogate Cat Rescue.

He was last seen on May 13 but was found again this weekend when his owners got a call from a York vet.

Jasper had found his way to Poppleton and was taken in by a family in June. The family mistook him for a pregnant female and took him to the vets this weekend.

When his microchip was scanned they learnt he had been reported missing.

His owner, Anna Whitehouse, said:

“It still feels so surreal having him back. It was heartbreaking at first when he didn’t remember me or his name. We never used to let him out at night but over lockdown it was so much quieter so we did.

When the Minster Vets in York rang us over the weekend it was amazing, we’d spoke the week before about stopping his insurance because he’d been gone so long.If only we had a camera to know what he’d been doing.”

Jasper had been missing for 19 weeks in total. His owners had searched for him for weeks during lockdown and put appeals on local social media groups. Only to find out he never was in Harrogate.

From being in his owner’s art studio to lounging in the sun in Poppleton, Jasper’s lockdown adventure will remain a mystery.

While many of us were having an uneventful lockdown. Jasper had gone on a summer getaway to Poppleton.

Phil Brierley found the cat in June and he became a part of his family. He said:

“He kept hanging round our door and he looked desperate and hungry – he really was on his last legs. I am a die hard Leeds football fan, so even though we thought he was a girl, we called him Bielsa. He was very skittish at the beginning but after a few weeks he was happy to come sit with you.

We were disappointed to send him back because he’s got a great character but I was delighted he had a family that had been missing him.”

Mr Brierley is certain Jasper jumped on the train near his home by Hornbeam Park station and “popped off at Poppleton”.

Neither family will ever know what happened to Jasper on his travels but both are happy he’s safe and sound, once again.

A real-life stray ferret spotted last Saturday has returned home safely to its rightful owners.

Owner Jess Silver and Jordan Croxford noticed their ferret, Dynamite, was missing from his cage in the early hours of Saturday morning and suspected he had been stolen.

But Dynamite was spotted by Evelyn Rose on Saturday, May 30 on Skipton Street at 10.15pm. Evelyn then got in contact with us at The Stray Ferret in a bid to unite the animal with its owners.

However, much to the Croxford’s surprise and relief, Dynamite returned back home safely on Sunday morning.

Dynamite – preferred life a home than roaming the streets of Harrogate

Owners Jess and Jordan told The Stray Ferret:

“We left the cage door open and on Sunday morning we thought we’d check to see if he had come back and he was fast asleep in his bed.”

The owners suspect Dynamite was stolen from his cage in their garden in the early hours of Saturday morning and was most likely set free when he revealed his sharp teeth.

Read more:

• Churches in the Boroughbridge area unite for pet service 
• South Stainley farmers paint their sheep in honour of the NHS 

Jess Silver said:

“In a year he’s never escaped so there’s no way possible he has just gone out. We couldn’t believe it when we saw where he’d been!”

Dynamite was rescued from his previous owner who no longer wanted him just under a year ago. Along with Dynamite, Jess and Jordan also have a second ferret named Jill who has recently had a litter of Kits.

The owners of the ferret are both very pleased to have Dynamite home safely!