Kitten rescued after days on log

Sooty the kitten reunited with happy owner Mandy Jones

A 10-month-old kitten had a lucky escape after floating down a river on a log and becoming stranded for days.

Sooty's owner Mandy Jones alerted her family and friends and they searched the area near her home near Pontypridd, south Wales, but to no avail.

Four days later Sooty was finally spotted on the log in the River Taff - just yards away from some rapids.

Luckily, the kitten was recognised by a neighbour and successfully rescued and reunited with his owner.

Mandy Jones said: "We were so relieved to see Sooty again as we had begun to fear the worst.

"I don't know how he got stuck on that log, but he's lucky to be alive as there are a series of rapids very near the spot where he was rescued."

Happy coincidence

The log was caught in some flotsam and jetsam near the river bank when Sooty was spotted.

RSPCA officer Hayley Matthews, who attended the rescue along with members of South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, said: "Sooty was very fortunate to be rescued and I'd like to thank the Fire and Rescue Service for their help.

"It was a happy coincidence that he was spotted by someone who knew the family, but I would encourage every cat owner to have their cat microchipped.

"It's a very cheap process and it means that animals can be returned to their owners quickly, especially if they're not as lucky as Sooty."