Boof was found this week in Wauchope after disappearing from his home at Greenmeadows all that time ago. The crew at Expressway Spares knew they had something lurking in their roof for some time. However it was only in the past week that he came out to play.

Once he warmed to the workers they started their search to find the owners, eventually taking him to be checked for a microchip.

Astonishingly the chip revealed his owner, Pam Humphries, was still at the same address.

Mrs Humphries was both shocked and overjoyed when she received the call about Boof.

"We had him for two years before he disappeared. We came home one day from work and he was gone," she said.

"Searching turned up nothing so we thought he was gone forever. When we got the phone call asking if we had a cat named Boof it was a huge shock after eight years."

Just how he made his way out to Wauchope is something only Boof can answer, but one thing is for sure - he is the same loving tubby cat he was all of those years ago.

"When we saw him again he was the same cat as he was when he left," Mrs Humphries said. "He loves a cuddle and a pat, he's just beautiful. He has been to the vet and he has been given the all clear - except he's too fat."

The weight gain may be from the excessive eating of rats, mice and other creatures during his long adventure.

Katrina Locksley, who works at Expressway Spares Wauchope, was the one to take Boof to the ranger.

"Everyone knew we had a cat here but he never appeared during the day until very recently," she said. "He was so friendly. After eight years we didn't think his owners would still be around. It's sad to see him go but we are all so happy he got his family back."

The shock reunion has prompted a strong reminder from Steve Arnold, the manager at the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council pound.

"It's important to take a stray animal to the vet to get it scanned for a chip, or take them to the council pound as we have a list of missing animals," he said.

"This is a great story and shows people should do everything possible to reunite the animal with its owners."