Itchy the cat lost at airport in Barcelona
AIRPORT bosses in Barcelona have come under fire after ‘losing’ a cat which had flown from Manchester with its owner to start a new life in Spain.
Itchy went missing after touching down at Barcelona–El Prat Airport almost two weeks ago.
It’s understood the animal fled from its cage onto the landing strip after the carrier fell from a conveyor belt and broke while being unloaded by ground handlers.
Because Itchy had gone missing outside the airport buildings, his owner was told she wasn’t allowed to look for him due to health and safety, so she launched a petition calling on bosses at Barcelona Airport to facilitate a search. So far the petition has been signed by almost 9,000 people, and several searches have taken place but to no avail.
Itchy flew to Spain on a Monarch flight on March 10 with his owner, who was returning to the country having spent four years in the north west.
The tabby was reportedly a rescue cat, who was adopted when he was just two weeks old.
He arrived safely at Barcelona Airport, and it was while his owner was waiting for him to be unloaded from the aircraft by handling staff that he ran off. She claims that there have been sightings of Itchy around the outdoor parts of the airport, but requests by her to put out traps to catch the animal have been ignored.
A spokesman for Monarch said that it was in contact with its ground handlers Iberia over the situation and members of the airport team were due to be meeting the owner. They said: “Itchy had a comfortable ride with us from Manchester Airport to Barcelona Airport on Friday, March 10. Our ground handling agent Iberia confirmed he was secured in a cage and went missing after the flight.
“We are doing everything we can to help the airport find Itchy.
“We have stayed in touch with the airport who have organised several searches for Itchy since he went missing and we understand Itchy’s owner is meeting with members of the airport team.”