This is the moment a cat called Butters came home after giving his owners the slip an amazing 12 years ago.

The heartwarming family reunion came after the puss had apparently been on an astonishing 200-mile trek along California's border with Mexico.

He was found after animal rescue worker Dalton Churchwell spotted Butters in his garden in Blythe and managed to catch him.

And when he scanned him for a microchip, he discovered the moggy had gone missing from his family in San Diego in 2011.

To get there, Butters would have had to cross deserts, forests, mountains and wildlife parks that are home to mountain lions.

When Dalton contacted owners Angelo and Shelley Castellino, they were ecstatic and could not wait for a reunion at their new home in Stanwood, in the US state of Washington.

Video footage of the meeting at Seattle Airport, near the Castellinos' new home in Stanwood, shows Dalton bringing Butters in a cat carrier.

As his owners greet him, Shelley cannot resist a quick peek inside to rub heads with Butters.

Then the couple switch the puss into their own container to take him home for another reunion, this time with his brother Barnacles.

A statement from the Dalton's bosses at Riverside County Animal Services on October 11 said: 'It's not uncommon for work to follow our animal control officers home.

'And that is precisely what happened when Riverside County Animal Control Officer Dalton Churchwell noticed a cat roaming around his backyard on Oct. 1 in Blythe.

'He managed to catch the cat and scan it for a microchip.'

'The scan showed the cat had gone missing in 2011 from his home in San Diego. Officer Churchwell took a chance and called the owners who were ecstatic to learn that Butters had been found.

'How Butters ended up in Blythe, Angelo Castellino, Butters' owner, said he can't imagine; however, he noted that Butters was always an adventurous cat.

'Angelo and his wife Shelley, who now live in Stanwood, WA were anxious to have Butters back home with his brother Barnacles.'

This is the moment a cat called Butters comes home after giving his owners the slip an amazing 12 years ago.

The heartwarming family reunion came after the puss had apparently been on an astonishing 200-mile trek along California's border with Mexico.

He was found after animal rescue worker Dalton Churchwell spotted Butters in his garden in Blythe and managed to catch him.

And when he scanned him for a microchip, he discovered the moggy had gone missing from his family in San Diego in 2011.

To get there, Butters would have had to cross deserts, forests, mountains and wildlife parks that are home to mountain lions.

When Dalton contacted owners Angelo and Shelley Castellino, they were ecstatic and could not wait for a reunion at their new home in Stanwood, in the US state of Washington.

Video footage of the meeting at Seattle Airport, near the Castellinos' new home in Stanwood, shows Dalton bringing Butters in a cat carrier.

As his owners greet him, Shelley cannot resist a quick peek inside to rub heads with Butters.

Then the couple switch the puss into their own container to take him home for another reunion, this time with his brother Barnacles.

A statement from the Dalton's bosses at Riverside County Animal Services on October 11 said: 'It's not uncommon for work to follow our animal control officers home.

'And that is precisely what happened when Riverside County Animal Control Officer Dalton Churchwell noticed a cat roaming around his backyard on Oct. 1 in Blythe.

'He managed to catch the cat and scan it for a microchip.'

'The scan showed the cat had gone missing in 2011 from his home in San Diego. Officer Churchwell took a chance and called the owners who were ecstatic to learn that Butters had been found.

'How Butters ended up in Blythe, Angelo Castellino, Butters' owner, said he can't imagine; however, he noted that Butters was always an adventurous cat.

'Angelo and his wife Shelley, who now live in Stanwood, WA were anxious to have Butters back home with his brother Barnacles.'