Revenant kitty: Cat that fled his fighting sibling 7 years ago reunites with family

Imagine the shock. After seven agonizing years, a British woman finally hugged her beloved cat again. The twist? This furry creature had been hiding in plain sight, just 300 yards from their home the whole time.

In January 2017, the Bengal cat, Duke, did not return home after getting into a fight with his sibling, Nero, Stephanie Barstow of Corby, Northamptonshire, told Wales Online.

Barstow said she gave up looking for the feline after months of searching.

But after a better part of a decade had passed, a simple knock transformed Barstow's world — her lost Duke, found at last. A vet was at her door, who told her that her cat was found.

"She asked me if I was the owner of a cat called Duke — I couldn't believe it," Barstow said. "She told me that he had been found just 300 yards away from my home at a factory. I was absolutely shocked — I just completely broke down."

Duke wasn't lost in the wilderness after all. He'd built a new life at a friendly factory, with workers keeping him fed and warm. But when the factory became unsafe, he landed at the vet's, microchip revealing his old identity.

Unfortunately, Barstow's contact info was outdated. Determined, the vet tracked her down — the news of Duke's return wiping away years of worry.

A bittersweet reunion followed. Changes like a new dog and baby made remaining together difficult, so with a heavy heart, Barstow found Duke a perfect new family, finally ensuring his happiness.