Mayday over missing moggy

Heartbroken owners of a missing moggy who jumped ship at Tobermory during a sailing holiday have put out a desperate mayday call.

Two-year-old Bluebelle was last seen two weeks ago and she may have been inadvertently tempted away by mackerel being gutted on the Flying Dutchman in the port.

Johanne and Nigel Sim from Tighnabruaich, Argyll, spent three days searching the streets and other boats before having to give up and leave without her.

Doing a vanishing act is completely out of character for small, gray Bluebelle who was a five-week-old feral kitten when the Sims’ dog Dillon found her under a bush in their garden.

Despite grim words from the vet that she was too weak to survive, the Sims handreared her and she became part of their family – she is toilet trained – literally – using the Sims’ home lavatory, she shares a Saturday manicure with Johanne and sits on the shoulders of the couple’s autistic son as he does the morning hoovering.

Johanne said: ‘We desperately miss her and want her home. The people of Tobermory, Oban and the sailing community have been so supportive helping us find her. I was in bits when we had to leave Tobermory without her. She is a huge part of our family.’

Tobermory Harbour is on alert, Oban FM has put a shout out and access to a wildlife camera has been offered from Ulva to help try and track Bluebelle’s movements.

‘I’m having to wear and sleep in t-shirts to get them as smelly as possible so they can be put in cat traps to try and catch her. We are being helped by the Cat Protection League in Salen which has had the offer of the wildlife camera. We just hope it works. Bluebelle has lots of funny quirks but she’s a bit of a home bird. She usually stays very close to us, so this is very unusual for her. She’s left a big hole in our lives and she will be missing us too,’ said Johanne, who is also trying to organise a leaflet drop in a bid to get her home.

The Flying Dutchman is known to have gone on to Oban so there is a possibility Bluebelle could now be on the mainland.

Bluebelle was wearing a pink and white reflective collar with bells on it, plus a pink heart-shaped address disc and is microchipped.

Anyone who knows of her whereabouts should call 07900 511194.

Joanne and Nigel Sim with their Jack Russell Dillon, below, are desperate to hear from anyone who may have seen Bluebelle, so that they can bring her home.