A Clapham resident and her cat have been reunited after a "heart-breaking" three months thanks to his microchip.

Wendy Grisham collected Oscar, a 16-year-old feline, from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home on January 19 after he had been missing for 87 days.

Wendy, who has owned Oscar since 2002, described her pet as "tough as old boots".

She said: "We’ve been together for almost 15 years. When he went missing I would stand at the back door and wait for him to come home – it was heart-breaking.

"Fortunately, he was microchipped and then last week I found out he was at Battersea - I can’t believe it.

"I want to thank the staff for taking such good care of my boy. Now I just can’t wait to get him home again."

Oscar was found sleeping under a car and is one of 19 pets who were reunited with their owners so far this year by Battersea Dogs and Cats due to their microchips.

Lindsey Quinlan, Battersea’s Head of Catteries said: "I’m thrilled that we were able to reunite Wendy and Oscar.

"Moments like this are what makes our job so rewarding, but there’s a serious message behind it.

"Had Wendy not microchipped Oscar she may have never seen him again, so this serves as a warning to all owners about the importance of microchipping their pets.

"Without that chip, we’re unable to trace any details of where they might have come from, so microchipping can save both the owner and their pet confusion and distress."