THE fortunes of a miserable moggy which shunned all human contact have taken a turn for the better.

Last week, The Northern Echo reported on the sorry tale of Mr Snugs, a depressed black-and-white cat who could not find a home.

The petulant pussycat was being cared for by the Aristocat Rescue charity, which tried everything it could to shake off the cat's despair.

But after being a stray for years before being temporarily taken in by a kindly woman, Mr Snugs appeared to have given up all hope.

That is until the charity received a call from Val Doddsworth, a reiki healer from Hurworth, near Darlington.

She offered to send out some distance energy healing to the downcast patient and, against all the odds, the therapy appeared to work almost immediately.

Julie Blakey, who was caring for Mr Snugs, said: "He has made brilliant progress.

"He came out of his bed when I was in the room for the first time ever. He ate a meal in front of me for the first time and he even miaowed at me for the first time."

The charity also received several calls from animal lovers offering Mr Snugs a home and suddenly things were looking up for the cat.

He received a visit from Beverly Webster, a cat lover from Darlington, who formed an instant bond and this week Mr Snugs moved into his new home.

Mrs Blakey said: "I am really pleased, she was so taken with him. When she arrived she spent over an hour on the floor talking to him and at the end he was letting her give him a little chin tickle.

"I've heard he's settling quite well into his new home and they have even had their first purr from him."