A FAMILY pet has been returned to his owners after being missing for nearly five months.

Ace the cat was found by a couple in the Rusland Valley - eight miles away from his owner's home.

He had been 'hanging around' outside their house for a couple of months before he was brought through to the RSPCA Furness and Barrow Branch.

Thankfully, a chip was found so a very happy family has now been reunited with their beloved lost pet.

Ace had been missing since June of this year and was found miles away from his home, possibly after hitching a ride in a car or van.

His owner, Heather Travis said:

"When he didn't come back after a couple of days, we started worrying and searched the roads and feilds for miles around. All our neighbours were keeping an eye out for him buut as time went on I was fearing the worst.

"When the RSPCA rang, I was over the moon.

"I am so grateful to the couple and to the RSPCA for reuniting us! Ace is back home now and has slept most of the time and is enjoying being spoilt. 

"We are just so glad he was microchipped. I'd recommend everyone to make sure their pet is chipped and keep te details updated as you just never know what might happen."

Ace's adventure demonstrates why it is so important to microchip your pets and keep their details up to date, said a spokesman for RSPCA Furness and Barrow Branch.

The small charity, run by volunteers, managed to reunite Ace with his family.

RSPCA Furness and Barrow Branch said: 

"His family were very happy and had suspected the worst. We have had many cats run over and killed. If they aren't chipped then it is difficult to find and notify the owners, they are left wondering."

"One example is Harriet who was found in someone's bathroom. She had a collar and was very friendly so obviously came from a home. Due to her not being microchipped we were unable to find out where she came from and nobody local had reported her. 

"With the popularity of online shopping, lots of cats have been known to curiously jump into delivery vans.

"They could end up anywhere.

"If they aren't chipped then it is almost impossible to reunite them with their family."

The RSPCA Furness and Barrow Branch offer free microchipping to Furness people in receipt of benefits.