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Bubba the missing cat is found after five years

Janine Yarnell A tortoiseshell cat looking direct at the camera. It has white, orange and black furJanine Yarnell
Bubba is a huge part Ms Yarnell's family

A pet owner from Ashford in Kent has been reunited with her cat who went missing five years ago.

Janine Yarnell recognised Bubba on a local Facebook lost and found group and after a trip to the vets, the cat's identity was confirmed.

Ms Yarnell told the BBC that Bubba "always meant a great deal to me" but that the hope of finding her safely had started to fade after so many years.

When Bubba joined the family she was microchipped but the chip's contact information for Ms Yarnell. had become out-of-date.

Bubba went missing on 8 October 2019.

The cat was spotted on the street by someone on 12 November 2024 and a photo was uploaded to Facebook.

Ms Yarnell said the photo "broke my heart" and caused her to question whether the lost cat was hers.

Ms Yarnell said people in the group used a digital facial feature comparison tool to see the similarities between the cat on the street and Bubba.

The features, of course, came back as very similar.

Janine Yarnell A cat looking matted, muddy and scared. It's fur is sticking up. The cat is outside on a pavement Janine Yarnell
The image of Bubba posted to the local Facebook group

The vets confirmed that the microchip in the cat had Ms Yarnell's old phone number on and Bubba was reunited with her owner.

Bubba is now home, recovering well and receiving lots of love and attention from the family.

Ms Yarnell said: "She's been on the streets for five years, she needs time to adjust."

However, "it looks like she's back to normal" and the family say they couldn't be happier.

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