GEOERGE NEWS - Seven months after disappearing from his home, Butters the cat is finally back with his family.

Jameel Fakee and his family relocated to George with their two cats in January. At the end of the month, Butters disappeared, and the family had no idea what had happened to him. 

“He was wearing a collar with our address and telephone number, so we immediately started looking for him,” said Jameel.

The family posted in neighbourhood groups, contacted veterinary practices and asked people to keep an eye out. As the months passed, they continued hoping they would eventually find him.

Then, on 3 August, Jameel received an unexpected call from Linda Vorster. “She told me they had found our cat.”

The discovery was made at BMD Engineering in Tamsui Industria. According to Linda, a white cat started visiting the premises and soon became a regular, arriving almost every afternoon between 17:00 and 18:00.

Mickey, Linda’s husband, began putting out food for him and tried to gain his trust, gradually attempting to lure him closer. But the cat was extremely wary of people and would disappear whenever they got too close. “He would come for food every day, but we just couldn’t catch him,” said Linda.

The Vorsters noticed the cat was wearing a collar, but it had become caught underneath one of his front legs. Concerned that it could hurt him, they were determined to catch him and find his owners.

De Wet, the couple’s son, managed to catch him at one point, but the frightened cat scratched him and escaped. After several unsuccessful attempts, the Vorsters contacted Salomé Bruyns of Sentiara, who referred them to Uschi Peuckert of Cat Garden Route.

Peuckert arrived the following day and spent four to five hours patiently trying to secure the elusive cat. Eventually, they received the message they had been waiting for: “I got him.”

With Butters safely caught, the number on his collar was checked and Jameel was called.

What made the discovery even more incredible was where Butters had been found in the industrial area - where Jameel had previously taken his vehicle for repairs. It is believed he might have climbed into the engine bay of the vehicle and been transported there.

Butters was taken to Wilderness Village Vets, where Dr Suzanne Muller examined him and provided the necessary care before he was reunited with his family.

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