Whitchurch cat returns from seven-year prowl

When Parsley the cat popped out to explore the Shropshire countryside in 2004 her owners thought she would be back in a matter of hours.

Seven years on, the adventurous pet has finally been reunited with her Whitchurch owners, who thought they would never see her again when she failed to return.

Amazingly, Parsley was spotted just yards from her former home in Tushingham, near Whitchurch, and taken to the town's Leonard Brothers Vets because she was believed to be a stray.

Vets checked Parsley's microchip which confirmed she belonged to Ian and Karen Brownlee.

The daughter of Parsley's owners, Vicky Barlow, from Malpas, said the family was astonished to have Parsley back after such a long time.

Mrs Barlow said: "It's absolutely unbelievable to have Parsley back, we had all mourned her. The vets rang and said: 'We've got her here'. and I said: "But she's been missing for seven years."

"I was totally astounded she made it back.

"Some kind person must have looked after her because she seems so well."

Parsley's independent streak might be to blame for the seven-year hiatus, she added, because the cat was a stray before the family took her in.

"We had her microchipped and I suppose this shows how well the system works.

"We're over the moon, it's the best news ever."

Parsley's whereabouts from 2004 to 2011 will probably remain a mystery, but Mrs Barlow added she would be fascinated to know exactly what the family pet had been up to.

By Tom Johannsen