A cat named Cosmic has been joyfully reunited with its owners after a harrowing 11-day disappearance at a National Highways outstation.
Saroja and Patrick Noel, along with their daughters Indra (13) and Prabha (10), were en route from Dagenham to the Lake District when they stopped for a break at Watford Gap services. They took their one-year-old cat, Cosmic, out of his carrier to stretch his legs, but he managed to escape into the National Highways Traffic Officer base nearby.
Despite a diligent search by Traffic Officers, the elusive feline could not be found. Team manager Mick Tomlinson suggested the family leave Cosmic’s carrier and some food behind so the team could continue the search while the family resumed their journey.
Mick recounted the efforts: “We have woods at the back of the outstation which must have felt like a playground for Cosmic. We were out looking, trying to entice him with food so we could build his trust and catch him but he was nowhere to be seen. With the M1, a river, and a railway line in close proximity, we were worried for him so we all joined the hunt over different shifts with staff buying tins of food out of their own pockets.”
After four days, Cosmic reappeared, very hungry but still wary. It took another week of patient efforts before they could gain his trust. Finally, on Tuesday, Cosmic walked into the building where his carrier and food were placed, allowing Mick to safely close the door and call the family with the good news.
The following evening, Wednesday, 5 June, Mick drove Cosmic to Toddington Services to reunite him with his ecstatic family.
Saroja expressed her gratitude: “We cannot believe we got him back. We are all so, so happy. What Mick did was wonderful. He was very patient and kept us updated every day. We cannot thank him enough. Cosmic is Prabha’s baby and she was so upset he’d managed to escape, so to get Mick’s call saying he was safe was just amazing. Cosmic meowed all the way home. We can’t work out if he was telling us about his adventure or telling us off for leaving him behind!”
The story of Cosmic’s adventure and safe return is a testament to the dedication and compassion of the National Highways team.
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