She's been a regular fixture on the shores of Loch Lomond for 12 years, but now, stray cat Georgie finally has a place to call home in Glasgow.
The 16-year-old cat was not always a stray - she had travelled to Loch Lomond on a family camping trip with her owners from Rochdale, but after going missing, the family made the tough decision to go home and try to find her by microchip.
While her owners went back home, Georgie soon became a much-loved feature of the camp, getting fed by the campers and keeping everyone company. Although she was loved, this did not stop the harsh winters getting to her and reminded everyone that she was still a stray.
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When the campsite was forced to close during the first Scottish lockdown, staff called in Cats Protection for help. They scanned Georgie for a microchip and it was a complete shock to her owner, Amy Davies, that she had been found after all this time. Unfortunately, due to a change in circumstances, Georgie had to be put up for adoption.
Animal-lover Margaret Petrie was looking for a new companion after she lost her previous pet, Cheddar, to illness.
Margaret said: “It’s always good to have a wee cat. I was looking to home a cat that other people might not want. I was heartbroken when I heard what a tough life she’d had.
“Years ago, my old cat Poppy escaped on a trip to the vets and I never gave up searching for her, putting up flyers and leaflets through doors. She turned up after six weeks of living in the wild, including through fireworks night, and I was so happy.”
Georgie came to live with Margaret before Christmas and has settled in well to her new home, spending much of her time in her favourite spot on a memory foam mattress by the radiator. She also shares the home with giant rabbit, Rupert, and is sometimes visited by Ruby, Margaret’s pet hen.
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Glasgow Adoption Centre manager Andy Currie said: “We are delighted Georgie has found a home where she will be able to live a quiet, stress-free life after so many years living the life of a stray. We wish them all the best for the future.
“We also want to remind people of the importance of microchipping, and keeping registration details updated, so that if your cat should unfortunately go missing there is a much better chance of being reunited.”
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