The cat had escaped as it was being taken to a new home in Moelfre, on Anglesey, by an animal charity worker. Three days later, miaowing was heard from the clothes bin but rescuers were thwarted as the lock was broken.
After the fire brigade and RSPCA's attempts also failed, the recycling bin was loaded on to a truck and driven to a specialist engineering firm 20 miles away. There, steel saws were used to gain access and the miaowing prisoner was finally revealed.
Kelvin Owen, who owns the engineering firm, said: "Once we got into the bin we heard the miaowing – it sounded just like a cat and we all started to carefully search the bags. Then I found a bag of toys and picked out a toy. I said: "It couldn't be this, could it?" As I held it it went "miaow, miaow". Mystery solved!"
Jasmine Hazlehurst, from animal charity Anglesey Pets, said: "I did feel embarrassed when they pulled out the stuffed cat. People were laughing, it was a priceless moment. I'm not that familiar with Disney toys but I'm told it is Marie from the Aristocats. She makes a miaowing sound that is very realistic when you touch her paw. My five-year-old daughter Naomi has been playing with her ever since."
Post published in: World News