Moggy mystery: The 25-year-old cat who turned up 10,000 miles from home

The mysterious case of a travelling ginger cat has puzzled those who found him wandering around a back yard in Northern Ireland. Ozzie the cat was found in County Armagh and picked up by the local Cats Protection centre as a stray. When his microchip was checked, they were shocked to find he had been registered in Australia - 10,500 miles away - as Tigger in 2000. It also revealed he had been born in 1989, making him 25 years old. The average age of a cat is around 15 years.

The poor cat was starving but obviously had been cared for in the past because it was wearing a collar.

Gillian McMullen, co-ordinator of the Armagh Branch of Cats Protection

Volunteers are unable to explain how the intrepid traveller, described as “a gentle affectionate cat”, wound up in Northern Ireland. It is possible he was taken to London by his owner, where he was seen by a vet clinic in 2004 as a stray, before somehow crossing the Irish Sea to Northern Ireland. The rescue centre has now launched an international appeal to find out more about Ozzie and return him to his original owner and Ms McMullen says the staff have their “paws crossed”.

The poor cat was starving but obviously had been cared for in the past because it was wearing a collar.

The Cats Protection’s post on Facebook

Odd News Armagh cat