A beloved cat who disappeared in the midst of a devastating Victorian Christmas Day bushfire, has returned 24 days later – a little injured but otherwise intact.
Wye River residents Lesly and Tony Maly, who lost their home after bushfires tore across the state on December 25, believed their pet cat Muppet had been buried in the rubble.
But the bird-fearing Muppet had not only escaped their fire-ravaged home but survived, and the injured feline emerged from burned bushland yesterday into arms of his stunned owners.
“There wasn’t much motion in him. But as soon as he saw me he just stood up and started rubbing himself against my arm,” Mr Maly said.
Muppet was so pleased by the sight of Mr Maly that he refused to leave his side, and is now recovering in his owner’s care.
It is not known how the cat managed to escape the fire, or where he has been the last few weeks, however Mr Maly believes he may have spotted the cat on Sunday night.
The sighting prompted him to leave food and water out, a decision that was rewarded when he found his offerings gone the next morning.
