'Stowaway' cat's 2,000-mile trip

Ziggy will be in quarantine for six months

A white cat has survived a 2,000-mile, 10-day sea voyage, before being discovered in a Lancashire warehouse.

The cat has been named Ziggy by warehouse workers after David Bowie's fictional alter-ego Ziggy Stardust, as he has differently coloured eyes.

Investigations have shown that the crate had come from a factory in Afula, in Israel and was sent to Liverpool.

Ziggy was discovered when a box was opened in Whitworth, Lancashire. The RSPCA is trying to locate his owners.

'Nine lives'

The stowaway cat's journey began in northern Israel. He then travelled for ten days on board a ship, inside a crate of plastic goods destined for the Whitworth warehouse.

Lancashire Council trading standards officer Colin Barton said: "When the container was finally opened staff unloading it got a real surprise when this fluffy white cat shot out.

"The cat was obviously starving after its long journey and was easily tempted into a trap with some nice tuna cat food.

"I think it has probably used some of its nine lives."

RSPCA staff have appealed for donations to pay for his six-month stay in quarantine.