An elusive cat who went missing for almost six years only to return home last week has done another disappearing act.

Merlin the cat first vanished from his Earley home in 2007 but, his owners, Alan and Andrea Cooke, were reunited with him on Monday, September 17.

The Bengal cat was taken to the vet having surfaced at a farm in Newbury five years and eight months to the day after he was reported missing.

Merlin, whose uncle is owned by former Arsenal and France footballer Thierry Henry, was traced to the Cookes because of his microchip.

Mr Cooke was able to pick up Merlin from Newbury last Monday and reacquainted him with the rest of the family and Merlin’s brother Bob.

He said at the time: “To get this guy back after five years, well, it’s unbelievable.”

But, just as the thoroughbred cat was settling in back at home, the couple’s son accidentally left the back door open allowing nine-year-old Merlin to make his escape into unfamiliar surroundings in the Eastcourt Avenue area on Friday.

Mrs Cooke, an operating department practitioner at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading, said: “Merlin has been settling in well and we’ve been doing well making sure that he can’t get out for a few weeks.

“But my son left the door open – he forgot for one second and that’s all it took. I feel really bad for my son.

“We’ve been out looking for him and we’ve been putting posters up.

“It’s difficult because when it started raining he will have looked for shelter so he could have gone into a shed or something like that.

“We’ve been around trying to look under cars but we haven’t seen him.

“Someone did say they saw him so we’re sure he is around.”

Merlin has tabby-style markings and is wearing a black collar studded with crystals.

He is microchipped.

If anyone finds Merlin or if you think you may have seen him, you can call Mr Cooke on 07889 852 770.

Site navigation

• Home
• News
• Business
• Sport
• Entertainment
• Lifestyle
• Jobs
• Property
• Motoring
• Classifieds