A CAT was today back with his owner after going missing for three-and-a-half years, the RSPCA said.

Kofi vanished from his home in Nottingham during the autumn of 2005, said an RSPCA spokesman.

An RSPCA inspector was called after a cat was found injured in a street in Ipswich, Suffolk, on April 6.

A scan on a microchip fitted to the cat revealed Kofi's identity and checks showed that he had nothing worse than an infected flea bite.

Kofi had been reunited with owner Sarah Hawley, who now lives in Sheffield, and was doing well, the spokesman added.

"We couldn't believe it when the chip showed that the cat had travelled so far from home," she said.

"We see so many unwanted animals that to get this cat back home after so long, just because of his microchip, is fantastic."

Mrs Hawley added: "I was amazed. We had given up hope of seeing him again."