Cat Away 5 Years

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31196, 21 October 1966, Page 2

Cat Away 5 Years

(N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND, October 18. A cat lost at Te Kauwhata more than five and a half years ago has reached her home at Morrinsville, about 30 miles away. In February, 1961, Mr and Mrs N. W. Hastings, of Riddell road, Auckland, left Auckland for their farm at Hangawera, Morrinsville. They took with them two cats, Nicolette and Mary Anne. Both were two years of age and accustomed to dividing their time equally between the two homes. At Te Kauwhata, which they reached in the dark, Nicolette, who was pregnant, became ill and the car stopped while Mrs Hastings attended to her. This was the only stop between Auckland and the homestead. When they reached the farm it was found that Mary Anne had jumped out at Te Kauwhata and in the dark her absence had not been noticed.

Telephone calls were made to Te Kauwhata and to Auckland, in case she made her way back to the city, but Mary Anne was not seen again until a few weeks ago when Mrs Hastings heard a cat mewing at the door of the homestead.

Mary Anne walked in, made a fuss of her mistress and immediately went to the refrigerator, where her food had been kept in 1961. “She was fit and well,” said Mrs Hastings, “but then Mary Anne was. always a good hunter.”