A CAT who had been missing from her owners for 12 years has been found at a Loch Lomond campsite.

The tortoiseshell-and-white Georgie had spent October 2008 with her owners at a campsite in Rowardennan on the shores of Loch Lomond when she vanished just before she was due to return to her home 250 miles away in Rochdale.

Since living alone, Georgie has been fed and cared for by campsite staff and regularly visits holidaymakers, wandering into caravans and camper vans for food and comfort.

As lockdown restrictions shut off campsites, a concerned member of staff at the campsite got in touch with Cats Protection’s Glasgow Adoption Centre for assistance.

As soon as Georgie was scanned for a microchip, it was discovered that the free-roaming moggy belonged to Amy Davies in Rochdale - who left the campsite all those years ago.

Amy said: “We were heartbroken when Georgie didn’t come back on our last day at Loch Lomond. It was such a lovely surprise to hear that she was not only well but had seemingly been having a great time meeting campers.

“My instinct was to jump in the car and collect Georgie straight away, but we have another nine-year-old cat now.

“When I spoke to the centre, I knew our life now just wouldn’t suit Georgie, as she doesn’t like other pets and needs space to come and go.

“It’s really sad that after all this time we won’t be reunited, but I have to do what’s best for Georgie.”

Lynsey Anderson, senior cat care assistant at Glasgow Adoption Centre, said: “We were amazed when we saw the Rochdale address on Georgie’s microchip.

“This really does highlight the importance of keeping chip details up to date. Without it we’d never have known Georgie’s history or been able to put Amy’s mind at rest after all this time.

“I could hear how much she wanted to come and see her, but her concerns for Georgie’s happiness really shone through.

“We’re looking for a quiet home for Georgie where she can be the only cat, enjoy her space and have plenty of garden to explore.

"She’s very loving and enjoys human company so will make a brilliant companion.”

For more details about Georgie or any of the cats at Glasgow Adoption Centre, visit www.cats.org.uk/glasgowac/adopt-a-cat or call the centre on 0141 779 3341.