A Birmingham cat lost for eight weeks has been found in Swindon and reunited with its owner thanks to the help of strangers.

JessyBell is a black and white cat that is approximately two years old which went missing at the end of 2022.

The animal’s owner, Misty McGailey, is originally from Swindon but has lived in Birmingham for the past three and a half years.

The Swindonian was visiting her mother at Christmas when her cat, which had travelled with her to Wiltshire, went missing.

“Three days into our holiday, on Friday, December 30, after returning back from a day out in Bristol, I called out to JessyBell, but she didn't come,” said Misty.

“I searched the house, to no avail, so I frantically went looking for her in the area, calling her name, but there was no sign of her.

Swindon Advertiser: JessyBell has since been returned back to her Birmingham home.JessyBell has since been returned back to her Birmingham home. (Image: Misty McGailey)

“The rest of my holiday I spent searching for JessyBell, putting posters up and praying she would return. I didn't want to leave my baby lost in Swindon and on her own but once my holiday came to an end, I had no choice but to return back home to Birmingham.”

The 31-year-old joined several Swindon groups on Facebook and continued the search by positing enquires about JessyBell.

“JessyBell's collar was then found by someone in Pinehurst in the road with suggestions of her being sighted in Penhill started flooding in and I received a call saying JessyBell was in a garden,” recounted Misty.

“My mum rushed up and, with the help of neighbours, coaxed the cat into a carrier. I rushed down from Birmingham where my mum met me at the train station, I was so relieved to have my baby back!”

On returning home, Misty realised that the cat was not actually JessyBell.

“I reposted an update, found his owner and he was collected and returned home,” she said.

“I continued posting JessyBell in the groups every week, hoping she would be found but it all went quiet, I was losing hope that JessyBell was even safe. There had been no positive sightings off her.”

Swindon Advertiser: The pair have been happily reunited thanks to the people of Swindon.The pair have been happily reunited thanks to the people of Swindon. (Image: Misty McGailey)

After eight weeks of looking, hope of finding the cat started to dwindle but this changed in an instant, allowing the pair to be reunited.

“I received a picture message asking if it was JessyBell, and it was,” said Misty.

“I was told a man who worked at Swindon Van And Car Rental on Station Road had been seeing JessyBell for a while and wanted to find out if she had an owner. I was so relieved, JessyBell looked so sad, a bit tatty, but not bad overall.”

Misty was unable to go down and help her myself, so posted again to ask people to try coax in the cat if seen.

“I was overwhelmed with the response as everybody was offering to help or go down and try and find her for me,” she said.

Swindon Advertiser: JessyBell was found looking worse for wear in Swindon.JessyBell was found looking worse for wear in Swindon. (Image: Misty McGailey)

“A woman named Carla Smith managed to catch my cat and she then kindly dropped JessyBell off at my mum’s, where she spent the night until I was able to collect her myself.”

The pair have since been reunited and Misty appreciates what the people of Swindon have done for her.

“JessyBell is now home and slowly getting back to normal and I'd like to thank everyone who helped bring JessyBell home,” she said.

“I’d especially like to thank Trev from CAR and Van rental for setting things in motion, and Carla Smith for going out of her way and bringing JessyBell home, and everybody from Facebook.

“If it wasn't for the kindness of strangers in Swindon, I'd never have my baby home. I am so grateful to each and every one of them.”