By Salma El-Sakka
A nine-year-old cat named Luna has been reunited with her owner in Glasgow after a mysterious journey of around 280 miles to Yorkshire, where she apparently stowed away in a van.
Disappearance and search
Luna went missing from Emily Caldwell's home in the Shawlands area of Glasgow on October 9. Caldwell, 34, spent weeks searching and put up flyers, but by the third week she and her husband feared the worst, believing Luna might have been hit by a car.
Discovery in Yorkshire
On October 29, a student emailed Caldwell after finding a cat at the College for International Co-operation and Development near Winestead, between Hull and the coast. Photos and a video confirmed it was Luna, though she appeared thinner. It is thought Luna hid in a staff member's van during a visit to Glasgow and was driven south unknowingly.
Microchip and app lead to reunion
Students at the college cared for Luna and took her to a vet, but the microchip scan did not initially result in contact with Caldwell. The students then used the PawBoost missing-pet app, where Caldwell had posted a listing, to track her down. A second vet scan confirmed the microchip number matched Caldwell's records.
Return home and recovery
Caldwell's father, who lives in northern England, collected Luna and brought her back to Glasgow on October 31. Luna returned thinner and missing a tooth but otherwise unharmed, sleeping for several days. Caldwell said Luna has become more agile and confident after fending for herself, but clearly recognized she was home, with her tail up and exploring the house.
