The ginger cat, named Ozzie by the branch, was microchipped in Sydney in 2000. The microchip register also revealed that his real name is Tigger and he was born in 1989 – making him at least 25 years old!

Co-ordinator Gillian McMullen says: “I responded to a call from a member of the public who was concerned about a poorly stray cat that had been hanging around her garden for several days. The poor cat was starving but obviously had been cared for in the past because it was wearing a collar.

“I took it to Willow Veterinary Clinic on the Mahon Road, Portadown, where we discovered it was microchipped and this is where the mystery begins. The cat had originally been microchipped in Australia!

“In 2004 he turned up as a stray in a vet clinic in London, but no owners could be traced.

“We have our paws crossed on solving the mystery of Ozzie our travelling cat!”

The branch is now launching an appeal to solve the mystery. Do you have any information about Ozzie? Please get in touch with Cats Protection’s Armagh Branch via armaghcats@hotmail.co.uk or 07709 483 550.

Find out more about the importance of microchipping your cat.