A Cat Travels 260km Across the Border and Finds Its Way Home After 5 Months

French Couple Loses Cat in Spain
Found in Neighboring Village Five Months Later

A French couple's lost pet cat, which went missing during a trip to Spain, was found five months later in a neighboring village near their home. This village is located as far as 260 kilometers away from where the cat was lost.

According to recent reports from foreign media outlets such as France Info, Patrick Sir and Evelyne Sir lost their pet cat 'Pillu' last August while returning home to Olonzac, H?rault, France, after a trip to the Ebro Delta in southern Catalonia, Spain. The couple had stopped their camper van at a highway rest area in Girona to refuel, and while they went to buy coffee, their cat Pillu escaped through a slightly open window on the passenger side.

The Sir couple reunited with their lost pet cat 'Pillu' after five months. Photo from French TV capture

The couple, unaware that Pillu had gotten out of the camper van, assumed the cat was sleeping inside as usual and continued driving home. However, several hours later, when they stopped near Lake Jouar in the Aude department of France, they realized that Pillu was missing. They returned to the last rest stop to search for him, and also reported the disappearance to an animal protection organization in Massanet and the Spanish Civil Guard. Additionally, they distributed missing cat flyers throughout Catalonia, Spain. Despite their efforts, there was no news of Pillu. Occasionally, they received reports of sightings, but these turned out to be cats that only looked similar. Eventually, the Sir couple had to accept the sad reality that they might have lost Pillu forever.

On January 9, five months after Pillu went missing, the couple was contacted by a resident named H?l?ne from the village of Homps, located 500 meters from their home. H?l?ne reached out to inform them that she was taking care of a cat. The cat had appeared in her garden the previous month, looking extremely thin and weak. H?l?ne took the cat to a veterinarian, and by scanning the microchip implanted in the cat, it was confirmed that the Sir couple, who lived nearby, were registered as the owners.

Upon receiving the call, the Sir couple immediately rushed to Homps. Although Pillu was severely dehydrated and had injuries on his paws, he was otherwise in good condition. The distance Pillu traveled, crossing the border from Spain to France, amounted to a staggering 260 kilometers. It is impossible to trace Pillu's exact route. However, experts believe that cats are able to remember familiar scents, sounds, and landmarks, which could have enabled Pillu to find his way back to the neighborhood.