A MACCLESFIELD moggy has turned doggy in a ‘missing’ mystery with a twist in the tail.

Bailey, an 18-month-old British shorthair cat, disappeared in August while owner Ben Carey and his family were abroad on holiday.

Three months later to the day, the furry wanderer walked back through their cat flap at 3am – much leaner and smelling of hay.

Where he was remains a mystery and Bailey has returned a markedly different pet.

"We do wonder if he has been living on a farm. He had clearly been out in the wild hunting because he had worms and ticks," said father-of-three Ben, 32, of Rotherhead Drive.

"He is more like a dog now. I can’t go to the bathroom without him coming too, and he sleeps in our bedroom on a blanket with his paws stretched out like a dog.

"He has been traumatised (by something) and rarely goes out."

The return of the prodigal cat leaves Ben and his family, wife Anne-Marie, 32, Charlotte, 13, James, ten, and William, three, facing a hectic Christmas after buying two replacement kittens and a baby reptile, to add to two other cats they already have.

"We put up 500 posters and the whole neighbourhood was fantastic," said Ben, a PR executive.

"One lady called saying she had found a cat she thought might be Bailey.

"She put the phone to the cat and asked if it sounded like Bailey!"

He believes Bailey may have panicked and run away when the family went away.

Mother-in-law Linda Cartwright said: "There were a lot of cavity wall insulation vans around and I think he got in one."

Ben added: "We were having a karaoke party with friends (when Bailey turned up) and joked that Bailey must have heard my awful singing and found his way home."

Source: Macclesfield Express