Tears of joy: Ronnie Cockroft saw his beloved cat Phoenix in the Cats Protection centre and was 'screaming and cheering with excitement'

This is the heartwarming moment a boy burst into tears of joy after getting his beloved cat Phoenix back 18 months after he went missing.

Michelle Humber and her son Ronnie, five, had gone to pick out a replacement pet when they stumbled across their old cat who had vanished from their home in Littleover, Derbyshire.

In an astonishing coincidence, ten-year-old Phoenix was in an enclosure next to another cat called Orlando who they had arranged to collect from a local Cats Protection charity.

The family now plan to give both cats a home when they pick them up this weekend.

Mother-of-two Miss Humber, 33, said: ‘The boys were devastated when Phoenix went missing because he played such a big part of their lives. He was always bouncing and playing around.

‘A few weeks ago we were talking about getting a kitten. The lads were really keen on the idea because they missed Phoenix so much.

‘We went to the Cats Protection and saw Orlando and went back a week later to pick him up and that is when we spotted Phoenix in the next door enclosure. It was amazing and the children were so pleased.

'Ronnie saw him straight away and was screaming and cheering with excitement. He was purring as soon as we went over to him and it was amazing to be able to hold him.'

Miss Humber added that he was still registered with his microchip as living at the family's old address - and if that was not confirmation enough, they also saw he still had his little wonky ear.

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Delighted: Michelle Humber and her son Ronnie had gone to pick out a replacement pet when they stumbled across their old cat Phoenix (seen in photograph) who had vanished from their home in Littleover, Derbyshire

Stroking him: In an astonishing coincidence, ten-year-old Phoenix (left and right) was in an enclosure next to another cat who they had arranged to collect from a local Cats Protection charity

Brothers: Five-year-old Ronnie (right) with his sibling Reggie, two, as they look forward to Phoenix's return

She said: ‘He became such a big part of our lives and it will be amazing to welcome him back home. I don’t know what the odds are of what happened to us but I imagine they’re pretty small.’

Ginger tom cat Phoenix disappeared from the family’s home in May last year – and despite plastering the neighbourhood with posters, he never turned up.

After several months they feared the worst and eventually gave up hope of finding Phoenix - who they got as a three-year-old in 2008 - and continued to look after their other moggie Ditto.

But when Ditto died last month, the family decided to go to the Cats Protection centre in Derby to pick out a new cat.

Sleeping: The family now plan to give both Phoenix (above) and Orlando a home when they pick them up

Cat lovers: Miss Humber (left) said Ronnie (right) was 'devastated' when their cat Phoenix went missing

Together last year: Ronnie is pictured with Phoenix the cat just before he went missing from the family home

Stray: Staff at Cats Protection told the family Phoenix had been brought to the charity two months ago

They chose a kitten called Orlando but were stunned when they turned up to pick him up last Saturday and saw Phoenix sitting in one of the enclosures.

Ronnie saw him straight away and was screaming and cheering with excitement Michelle Humber

Miss Humber’s partner Jay Cockroft, 38, a bin man, added: ‘It’s a bizarre coincidence but we’ll all delighted to have Phoenix back. The boys couldn’t believe it when they saw him.’

Staff at Cats Protection told the family Phoenix had been brought to the charity two months ago after someone took him to the vets as a stray.

Michelle added: ‘I know the lads are buzzing with excitement because that’s all they’re talking about. He’s a really friendly and pleasant cat. He’s perfect and great with the children.