A CAT has returned home nearly two-and-a-half years after he went missing - minus his tail.

Kelly Hannon, 23, longed to see her pet Syris again after he disappeared from her home in May 2003.

She searched high and low for him and put up dozens of pictures in local shops and supermarkets.

But as the months passed, she eventually lost hope of being reunited with the cat.

She moved out of her family home, further up the street and, nine months ago, had her first child, Megan-Jo.

Then, Ms Hannon's mother called to say a black-and-white cat had turned up on the doorstep of her home in Bensham, Gateshead.

Ms Hannon said: "I was really excited and couldn't wait to see if it was him.

"Even though I thought he might have changed, I knew I'd recognise him because he has distinctive marks on his legs and one of his eyes is a little slanted."

She said the three-year-old animal seemed fine - apart from his missing tail.

"Overall, Syris looks fit and healthy. The only difference is he doesn't have a tail, which could mean he was knocked over and then taken in by another family."

She said she would find it difficult to care for him now.

"As he has been well looked after, I'd love to find the person who has been taking care of him, because I'm not allowed pets in my block of flats and I'm too busy with my young daughter."