Photo by Birkir Fjalar Viðarsson / Vísir

A cat that went missing 7 years ago has returned into the arms of his owner, reportsVísir.

“I think the universe decided to bring us back together to finish the final chapter of his story,” said cat owner Birkir Fjalar Viðarsson about the reappearance of his cat Örvar (Arrow) after 7 years.

Birkir received a notice from Kattholt cat shelter in February and was asked to pick Örvar up.

“I kind of didn’t believe it at first. I didn’t know what to expect. So I prepared for the worst, that he had lost an eye or an ear or something, or that we would have to put him out of his misery,” Birkir said. “So I kind of prepared myself emotionally and went to Kattholt.

“When I got there, the women who worked at the shelter told me that Örvar was very withdrawn and hiding in a corner. I called him a little and he came running to me, climbed up on my shoulders and wrapped himself around me like we’d never been apart. He started sniffing my hair and my beard,” Birkir said. “It was wonderful. The women at the cat shelter said he’d never acted that way before. One of them was moved to tears.”

Örvar went missing in the fall of 2007, shortly after Birkir had adopted a puppy. Birkir had another cat who was not fussed by the dog’s arrival but Örvar began staying out for longer periods of time and staying home less and less.

One afternoon Örvar did not return home. “I searched and searched,” said Birkir. “I hung missing posters everywhere but nothing came of it. I imagined two possibilities. Either he had died or someone spotted him and took him in – or stole him essentially.” Birkir regularly checked in with Kattholt cat shelter in case Örvar turned up but in 7 years there was no sign of him.

It took Kattholt employees 2 weeks to track Birkir down as all the information in Örvar’s chip was out of date and Birkir had long since moved from the address he had when Örvar went missing.

Örvar, who is now 16 years old and well into his golden years, has settled back into life with Birkir and his girlfriend.

“He’s just laying in his bed and having a wonderful time,” said Birkir. “It’s just incredible, like he never left.”