6 October 2008

A cat from the Scottish Borders has astounded animal experts by surviving for four weeks after being trapped in a shed.

Corrine Regan had approached Animal Search UK after her moggie, Misty, went missing.

The company helped in the search of the missing pet and provided posters for Ms Regan to place near her Peebles home.

After four weeks had passed the devastated owner was fearing the worst but a neighbour stepped forward after seeing the posters.

Misty had been discovered in the neighbour's shed and it is estimated she was trapped there for nearly a month and lost up to one kilogram in weight.

"We'd been looking for her for weeks and we'd given up hope to be honest," Ms Regan told the Peeblesshire News.

"I'd love to be able to ask her how exactly she managed to survive."

Tom Watkins, founder of Animal Search UK, stated that the cat probably licked condensation from the windows and ate mice to survive her ordeal.

Mr Watkins set up the free animal search service in 1999.