ST Brelade parishioners are being asked to help reunite a family with their cat, which has been missing for two years, after a surprise sighting this week.
James, who would now be ten years old, was last seen in January 2023 before he went missing from the Woodbine Corner area in St Brelade.
However, his owners – the Ibbotson family – have renewed hope after a cat with similar distinctive facial fur was spotted along Le Mont des Longchamps in St Brelade.
And Claire Ibbotson is asking Islanders to keep their eyes peeled and help bring their beloved pet safely home after two years after her husband spotted what could be James.
The Ibbotson family initially adopted James and his brother, Ralph, from the Cat Action Trust in August 2015 after the kittens were found in St Ouens Bay.
Clair said: “We can’t believe he is still alive. The last time we saw him, he had a cut on his leg and managed to get out of the house before we could lock the cat flap.”
“He never came home and with the storms we had we thought that was it.”
Mrs Ibbotson said her husband spotted the cat and quickly took a photo before it disappeared, which they later compared with an old photo of James.
Jersey’s Cat Community Facebook group has now kicked off the search to track down James.
Mrs Ibbotson added “it would mean everything” to the family to be reunited with their pet.
She said: “We had to tell our children he has a new friend and is with them and is happy, we just never knew if he would come home.
“The cat search group and the Facebook group are amazing.”
“They have been so supportive and they are all volunteers doing this in their own time.”
“It’s incredible what they do and the amount of cats they have found over the year is phenomenal.”
Mrs Ibbotson added: “If anyone sees a cat they haven’t noticed before, don’t assume they have no owner as they don’t wear a collar.
“Try and take a picture and put it on the Facebook group.”
