TREASURED tomcat Oliver can look forward to a few weeks of pampering after living a life echoing the Charles Dickens classic for the past seven months.

Dave Keenleyside and Maureen May feared the worst when their eight-year-old pet disappeared last August.

They searched the area around their new bungalow in Almsford Road, York, to no avail and were more or less resigned to the fact they may never see Oliver again.

However, the cat was back in a favourite spot at home yesterday after being found living rough nearby.

A lack of weight suggested that Oliver survived the winter by living on wits and whatever could be scavenged.

However, Oliver's vagabond days were numbered when people noticed the cat's leg had become caught in its collar and called in the RSPCA.

"We only moved in a month before Oliver went missing so no one really knew he was ours," said Mr Keenleyside.

"However, when people saw him with his leg caught, it was obvious he didn't have an owner to help so they called the RSPCA."

Several attempts to catch Oliver failed, but when animal collection officer Joel Millard finally tracked Oliver down, the collar proved to be a route home as it carried a metal disc engraved with the owners' telephone number.

"If he had not been wearing the collar, there is no way we would have known his owners lived just three streets away from where he turned up,'' said Mr Millard yesterday.

Although nervous around strangers, Oliver has already begun to adapt to life indoors, which is where Dave the animal will stay for at least the next few weeks.

"We're delighted and relieved to have him back. He can certainly look forward to being spoiled for a bit," said Mr Keenleyside