'Wanderlust' cat safely brought home by police

A missing 15-year-old "wanderlust" cat that likes to make a petrol station forecourt her second home has been returned to her owners after being tracked down by police.

Bex Hunt, the owner of Pixie, the longhaired moggy, said she was taken from Applegreen Garage, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, on 19 March, as she was mistaken for being homeless.

Officers from Thames Valley Police brought her back on 10 April.

Miss Hunt, 30, said she was pleased the "very adventurous cat" was home and she had been "smothering her with smooches".

Miss Hunt said the "little old lady" family cat just "loves to explore" and made the petrol station her second home as she "loves getting fuss".

"She's got wanderlust, she's just very adventurous but is very street smart. Someone has seen her wait at a zebra crossing to cross.

"People take her to the vets as they think she's homeless, as sometimes when she sleeps on the coal she gets very mucky."

She said it was the third time she had had to put up posters for people to look out for Pixie and it was the reason for creating the Pixie the Applegreen Garage Cat, external Facebook page, so everyone knows she has a loving home.

People now travel to refuel at the garage just to see her, she said.

Miss Hunt said she thought Pixie was taken on 19 March by someone who wanted to give her a home, but they had not checked she was microchipped.

When she discovered there was garage CCTV footage of her being picked up, she contacted the police, who tracked the person down by their number plate, she added.

Pixie was eventually found and returned home by officers who were "really fantastic" on 10 April.

"Since she's been home she's a bit confused, but is getting back to normal and is fine, but I'm going to take her to the vets just to get her checked," she said.

"I'm smothering her with smooches."

Thames Valley Police said: "Following our investigation, a cat has been returned to its owner after being reported stolen in Aylesbury."

It said "someone had taken the cat in good faith as she was thought to be homeless" and "wilfully agreed to give the cat back, and we returned her to her rightful owner".

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