The Norwegian Forest Cat had vanished from his home in Billericay, Essex, and was found 11 days later at the fast-food chain north of London.

Eight year old Chewie was spotted by McDonald’s staff in Shenley, Herts., wandering around the car park.

The employees took in the lost cat, affectionately dubbing him ‘Big Mac’, before contacting local cat protection services.

Meanwhile, Chewie’s owner, Sophie Morrish, had been desperately searching for her cherished pet, oblivious to his burger joint escapade.

Once located, a tearful reunion ensued between Chewie and Ms Morrish.

It is speculated that the adventurous Chewie may have hitched a ride in someone’s vehicle. On Saturday evening (25/01), staff at the McDonald’s in London Colney, Herts., situated next to the bustling M25 motorway roundabout, noticed a cat wandering the car park and approaching customers.

They brought Chewie, now known as ‘Big Mac’, into the back office and reached out to a volunteer from St Albans and District Cats Protection, who collected the cat.

As Chewie happily devoured some food, his microchip revealed his true identity and home address in Billericay, Essex – more than an hour’s drive away.

Chewie’s owner, Ms Morrish, had been frantically searching the local area for her beloved cat who had been missing for 11 days. Once Chewie was found, volunteers swiftly reunited him with his relieved owner.

The team at St Albans and District Cats Protection speculated that Chewie’s worn and scuffed claws might indicate he had been trapped in a van or lorry for some time, although they admitted they would likely never know how he ended up so far from home.

Jo Weaver, a representative from Cats Protection St Albans, emphasised the crucial role of microchipping in such cases.

Since last year, it has been mandatory for cats to be microchipped, with owners facing a £500 fine for non-compliance. “Thanks to his microchip we were able to get Chewie reunited with his family in just two and a half hours,” she said.

She added: “We were so pleased to be able to get him home to his family, it was understandably a tearful reunion.

“This case really shows how important microchips can be in getting lost cats home.”

She explained that while they often assist with lost or stray cats, without a microchip, their efforts to find the owner through social media and leafleting are less likely to succeed, especially over long distances like Essex. “Thanks to his microchip, Chewie was able to get back to where he belonged.”