Cat found after Ceredigion to Cardiff removal van trip

An 84-year-old man has been reunited with his beloved cat which disappeared after climbing into a removal lorry.

Jeffrey Otway's cat Tiger got into the van in Llangybi, Ceredigion, over two weeks ago before travelling almost 100 miles (160 km) to Whitchurch, Cardiff, where he jumped out.

He was found after a social media appeal to find him was shared more than 1,000 times.

Mr Otway said he was "over the moon" after the reunion on Wednesday.

"I'm still a bit teary, it is the best new year's present I could have had," he said.

Mr Otway, who has lived alone since losing his wife five years ago, said it had been an ordeal: "Its been the worst two-and-a-half weeks of my life."

Tiger was eventually found after jumping into a car in Llanishen, Cardiff.

Mr Otway said the woman who found him, Sarah, held on to him and shared his picture on social media.

The picture was seen by users who had seen the appeal for Tiger that Mr Otway's daughter-in-law Lorraine had posted.

Mr Otway's son Paul said he drove his father to Cardiff for the tearful reunion: "Dad was crying, everyone was crying, the family who kept him was crying," he said.

He said they arrived home at 04:00 GMT on Thursday and Tiger has not left his father's side since: "Every time my dad has got up to make a cup of tea he follows him.

"As soon as we got him through the front door he was purring. Miracles do happen.

"I haven't got the words to explain how unbelievable and amazing it is."

He thanked Jenna Satterley, a woman from Cardiff "who didn't know us from Adam but would drop everything at the drop of a hat, even at midnight, if there was a suspected sighting".

"We had lots of near-misses, sightings, false alarms," he said.

Mr Otway said he is enjoying having him home: "He's more like a dog than a cat, a real character.

"He is my soul mate."