Postman finds cat in his mail van

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A postman had to make a special delivery to Battersea Dogs & Cats Home after finding a cat in the back of his red mail van during his morning round.

The Royal Mail postman was stunned when he found the tortoiseshell cat curled up in the back of his truck after delivering his post from Southampton to Langley, in Berkshire.

The friendly two-year-old was brought to Battersea's rescue centre in Old Windsor and named Jess by the cattery staff, after Postman Pat's beloved feline passenger from the children's TV series.

Tamara Willis, Battersea Old Windsor's cat rehomer, said: "We have a lot of characters turning up at Battersea, but this week we had our very own Jess the cat.

"Jess probably came from a loving home, but sadly her curiosity must've got the better of her before she got into the van and started her 67-mile journey from Southampton to Berkshire.

"Her long journey shows the importance of microchipping your pet as you never know how far they can travel from home."

Only 15% of cats that arrive at Battersea are microchipped, making it difficult for staff to reunite the animals with their owners. The charity cares for over 3,000 cats every year, nearly half (46%) of which come in as strays like Jess.

The Old Windsor centre, which is open to the public every day, is to hold its annual Fun Day on July 5. The free family event raises thousands of pounds each year which helps Battersea rescue, rehome and reunite thousands of dogs and cats across the UK.