Christmas is a time for heart warming stories, says John Hillman, so what better way to start the festive countdown than with a story of loss, high seas adventure and, of course, a very happy ending.

With Christmas approaching, and the pantomime season upon us, it looks as though we have a new ‘famous feline’ tail to tell, one to join our regular festive favourites such as Eliot’s Macavity and Puss in Boots.

Sandi the Seacat tells the tale of a remarkable ginger tom who went out for his usual Friday night stroll and, through a series of mishaps, found himself onboard The Pride of Bilbao and bound for Spain.

How Sandi managed to get all the way from his quiet patch of backyard territory to the hold of a P&O Ferries ship remains a mystery, but his owners, Tim and Patricia Austin, from Lee-on-the-Solent on the outskirts of Southampton, are convinced that he was the victim of a sinister catnapping.

“We know our cat wouldn’t have gotten into a car or van with strangers voluntarily – even we can’t get him into a car. We think he got out of the vehicle on the ferry when someone opened the door and he ran.”

Said Tim Austin, who spoke to Portsmouth Today.

“Him being micro-chipped has been absolutely key to his return – without that he would probably have been put down after they found him.”

“And P&O have been fantastic. He’s been well looked after.”

Indeed once Sandi was discovered by P&O Staff, wandering the car decks of the ferry, he became the one of the first cats to experience P&O Ferries’ famous hospitality on the Portsmouth to Bilbao route.

Brian Rees, P&O spokesman, said:

“Since he was found he’s been treated like a VIP – he’s had a cabin to himself for the return journey and been dining on chicken and salmon. I think most of the crew have had a cuddle – they’ll be sad to see him go.”

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Image credit: Fritzchen

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