A four-year-old fluffy black cat with golden eyes, Starky or Stark, was named for the Iron Man character, Tony Stark. He enjoyed life with his family in Bar Hill, a village near Cambridge in the UK. Stark was adored, including by the family dog, Winnie. Free to come and go outside, one day in late March, Stark disappeared from the garden and went missing…for almost eight months.
A picture posted when Stark went missing in late March. Image via identibase
Stark’s guardians, Ashleigh Archer and her husband William, were “devastated,” posting on social media and searching for months for the missing kitty. But nobody had seen the cat, and they could never have suspected where he had gone. As it turned out, Stark’s adventure took him far south to the capital in London, over 60 miles away.
“Starky had always been an explorer, but he’d always greet my husband when he came home from work – so when he was missing for a day – and then for longer – we feared the worst,” Archer told the BBC.
Images via CambridgeshireLive/Ashleigh Archer
A Black Cat’s Adventures in London
How the cat got to London, nobody knows and maybe never will.
“It’s a shame cats can’t talk really,” Archer said.
Did he jump inside a vehicle and then escape? Did someone pick him up and carry him away, only to let him out later? Well, all that is known now is Stark managed to get by thanks to kind people at a London office, who fed him. Later, as the weather began to grow cold, they asked for help from the Celia Hammond Animal Trust.
As they always do, the rescuers scanned Stark and discovered he was in luck again – a microchip led them to his family far away. They immediately sent an email. But then, there was an excruciating wait, as the couple spent the night with so many questions.
“It meant Ashleigh and her husband had a horrible overnight’ wondering what the charity would tell them when they called in the morning. They need not have worried as staff at an office in London had been feeding Stark since May,” reported Cambridgeshire News.
Images via BBC/Ashleigh Archer
‘The Best Feeling in the World’
After an anxious night, the couple learned that Stark was waiting for them un safety. It was the best news ever, and they traveled straightaway to London. The resulting reunion was ameowzing! Immediately, Stark recognized William and you can see how happy Archer is holding Stark closely.
“It’s the best feeling in the world,” she said. “I said to [my husband] the other day, marrying you was the best day of my life but this nearly tops it.”q p c
Ashleigh Archer and her husband William reunited with Stark thanks to the Celia Hammond Animal Trust and kind office workers in London. Image via Facebook/Cambridgeshire Live
Meanwhile, back at home, it was late October and Winnie, the dog was thrilled to see his missing pal too!
“The dog is over the moon that he’s home,” she said.
Stark is back home in Cambridge with his new pal Bucky and long-time friend Winnie the dog.
After Stark went missing, Winnie was so upset the family adopted another kitten, a tabby named Bucky, to keep the doggo company. And wonderfully, the three are doing great together.
Without that microchip, Stark’s adventures in London may have continued indefinitely. So, Archer reminds everyone how important it is and not to give up hope if your pet goes missing.
“Don’t give up hope. Get your cat microchipped.”
Images via CambridgeshireLive/Ashleigh Archer
