A cat has been reunited with his owner after being found in a supermarket car park almost 50 miles from home.

Four-year-old Otis, who disappeared 18 months ago, was discovered outside Asda in Shipley and taken to Haworth Cat Rescue.

A microchip fitted under the skin of the jet-black cat, who had lost weight and had matted fur, revealed he had travelled from Sheffield.

His owner, Jennie Field, who adopted Otis and his brother Stevie as kittens from a rescue centre, said she had given up hope of finding her pet.

She said: “He had gone missing for a week before and had broken his pelvis. When he went missing again we presumed he must have been injured again.

“I was very worried. Stevie used to walk around the house mewing and looking for him. When I got to Haworth Cat Rescue and I called his name he meowed so I think he recognised me.

“I never expected to see him again. The rescue centre had looked after him really well.”

Mystery surrounds how Otis travelled across the region but it is thought he could have been trapped inside a car or van.

“He’s very inquisitive,” said Miss Field. “He used to jump into my neighbours’ houses so I wonder if he climbed into a car and hadn’t been recognised as missing.”

The 32-year-old, who works for a lingerie company, had not updated her telephone contact details so only her address was available to staff at Haworth Cat Rescue.

But a supporter of the rescue centre’s Facebook page, who was living in Sheffield, delivered a message to her house.

Corinne Moore, campaign manager for Haworth Cat Rescue, said: “Many people who find a lost cat don’t know that their local vet or rescue will scan the animal to check for a microchip for free.

“But a microchip is only as good as the information on it, so it is essential to update your details on the chip if you change your mobile phone number or move house.

“If you haven’t yet had your cat microchipped, please do so. It is no worse for the cat than having an injection and costs about £20.

“We have reunited many cats with their owners over the years thanks to their microchip, and are just so delighted that Otis and Jennie are now back together.”

For more information about Haworth Cat Rescue, visit haworthcatrescue.org or call (01535) 647184.

e-mail: hannah.baker@telegraphandargus.co.uk