British cat sails to Spain

A cat who went missing from his home sent his owners into a panic, only to turn up three days later in Spain. Sandi's owners Tim and Patricia Austin searched for him in the streets of Portsmouth after he failed to come home last Friday unaware the ginger tom had headed to Bilbao.

The couple immediately began putting up posters and handing out leaflets to people in their neighbourhood in Lee-on-the-Solent, Hants, but to no avail. But the pair were surprised to receive a phone call three days later saying Sandie was alive and well in Spain.

He had been discovered onboard the P&O ferry the Pride of Bilbao, on it's Saturday night sailing from nearby Portsmouth to the Spanish port.



Mr Austin, 67, said: "We know our cat wouldn't have gotten into a car or van with strangers voluntarily – even we can't get him into a car. We think he got out of the vehicle on the ferry when someone opened the door and he ran. Him being microchipped has been absolutely key to his return – without that he would probably have been put down after they found him."

Brian Rees, P&O spokesman, said: "Since he was found he's been treated like a VIP – he's had a cabin to himself for the return journey and been dining on chicken and salmon. 'I think most of the crew have had a cuddle – they'll be sad to see him go."

Although Mr Austin and his wife Patricia now know Sandi is safe and he has been brought back to Britain, he can't come home for up to six months because of quarantine rules.