A CAT that went missing in Peebles last year has clawed its way back into the arms of its owner nine months later.

The desperate plea of worried owner Sue Standford sparked a search in the local community to find Geoff, who mysteriously disappeared just after Christmas.

Sue, from Manchester, was visiting family in Peebles and brought her three feline friends with her. However, when Geoff went missing she took to social media and posted a photo on the Peebles Lost Pets Page to see if locals could help find him.

With no hope in sight, Sue returned to home without her beloved pet, only to receive a call months later with the tragic news that Geoff had been killed.

Sue told the Peeblesshire News: “I went to Peebles to spend time with my sister and her family for Hogmanay. As I was going to be visiting for a few days, I decided to take my three cats with me.

“They had all been there several times before so there was no issue with them going out and exploring. We went out to look for him and when he didn’t return the following day I was getting worried, as there were reports that the Tweed was going to burst its banks.”

After seeing Sue’s plea on the Lost Pets page the local community rallied together to help locate him, putting up posters and delivering leaflets.

Sue added: “Just after New Year there were a few sightings of him reported, but they turned out to be negative. In March, a member of Animal Search contacted me to say a male had phoned informing them that his friend thought he had knocked him down and he had gone into the Cuddy near to where my sister lives. I tried to get the motorcyclist to speak to me but he wouldn’t. I have no idea if this was a hoax call or not.”

But after nine months, and perhaps having spent his nine lives, Geoff was handed in to Peebles Armac Veterinary alive and well a few weeks ago.

A delighted Sue explained: “I got a call from vet to say an elderly male had brought him in and they had checked for a chip. They said he was in good health and was definitely being fed.”

The whereabouts of Geoff over the past nine months, and the call to say he had been knocked down and killed, remains a mystery.

Perhaps Geoff just thought Peebles was the purrfect place to live!