'Never give up hope', says RSPCA after cat is returned to owner 11 months after going missing in Milton Keynes

Black and white Cocoa had been missing from his Loughton home since the beginning of November last year.

His owner had made several heartfelt appeals on social media but, as the months passed, had given up all hope.

This week the MK branch of the RSPCA was contacted by staff at the Open University about a stray hanging about their Walton campus.

The OU grounds staff had been feeding him, but asked the RSPCA to scan him to see if he was registered with an owner.

An RSPCA spokesman said: "One of our lovely volunteers went out to scan this stray yesterday. Because he was chipped and the details up to date we were able to quickly reunite him with his owners."

Cocoa had gone missing from Loughton, which is five miles away from the OU.

His delighted owner, who has two children, said today: "We are beyond thrilled."

She said the five-year-old, who was originally a rescue kitten, had a "fantastic character" and was an important member of the family.

The RSPCA says the story proved that owners of lost cats should never give up hope - providing their pet is microchipped.

The branch spokesman said: "Please make sure your pets are chipped and the details kept up to date. It massively increases the chances of being reunited with them if they go missing."