Black cat Colin O’Neill went missing in August 2006 shortly after his family moved from Middlesbrough to Garstang, Lancashire. Four years later he’s been reunited with his family, just in time for Christmas.

The O’Neill family did everything in their power to find Colin back in 2006, but eventually gave up hope and later moved back to Middlesbrough.

Fast forward to 2010. A lady found Colin in a garden in Garstang and took him to Cats Protection, an animal charity. Performing the routine microchip scan on intake, they got a hit, and contacted the O’Neills (who had kept their address current with Cats Protection for the microchip.)

Mrs O’Neill said, “I couldn’t believe it when I got a call to say Colin had been found. It was really the best Christmas present I could have hoped for.

“When I went to pick Colin up, he was quite nervous and cowering in the corner of a pen. I simply said his name and he instantly recognized me.

“He bounded up to me and stuck his head under my arm. It was just a magical moment and it left me close to tears.”

It certainly made the holiday of Cat Protection’s volunteers. Jeanette Greaves, publicity volunteer at the charity’s Preston branch, said, “Everyone at the branch is so thrilled that we were able to reunite Colin with his owners after all this time.

“It has really made our Christmas.

“This case certainly highlights the importance of microchipping and keeping details up to date, as it greatly increases the chances of a happy reunion should a cat ever go missing from his home.”

Cats Protection helps about 215,000 unwanted cats through a national network of 256 volunteer-run branches and 30 adoption centers.

Happy Christmas, Colin!!!

[SOURCE: BBC NEWS]