A cat used up one of her nine lives after she escaped from a bin lorry, five months after she went missing.

Kitty hadn't been seen at her Rainham home since July but she made it home, safe and slightly smelly.

A couple of weeks ago staff at the Veolia waste depot on Medway City Estate, Strood, spotted a cat darting out from the back of a refuse vehicle as it was being emptied.

The terrified cat ran off and hid between a cavity wall.

Unsure what to do, staff called the RSPCA.

They fed and left water for the terrified cat in a bid to build her confidence.

On Monday, December 2, RSPCA officers placed a trap to catch the feline.

Animal collection officer Emma Byrne rescued her and took her to the RSPCA’s Leybourne Animal Centre.

She said: “This poor cat had really been through an ordeal and she was terrified, as well as being very smelly.

"Luckily she wasn’t injured, and we were delighted she was microchipped which meant we could call her owner and give her the good news.”

It is thought six-year-old Kitty may have got in a refuse lorry while it was doing its rounds.

She went missing five months ago when her owner Charlotte Barritt went on holiday.

The fluffy pet had been left with her sister in Chatham.

But Kitty escaped and despite extensive searches and social media appeals she was not found.

Ms Barritt said: “When I got the call to say Kitty was found I just couldn’t believe it. Part of me never expected to see her again, but you always have hope.

"It was wonderful news and I received the call on my birthday, so it was the best present to know she'd been found.

“She's my son Oliver’s cat. When we went to collect her I didn’t tell him the reason we had gone there. He was overwhelmed when he realised Kitty had been rescued.

“She was very dirty and matted and still quite frightened when we first saw her, but after her first night at home she was much happier and enjoyed cuddles.

“I would really like to thank the people at Veolia for keeping her safe and feeding her over the weekend, it is just so kind of them. I would also like to thank the RSPCA for catching her and I would just remind people the importance of microchipping your pets.”

To help the charity go to www.rspca.org.uk/giftofkindness

Escaped animals, unusual finds and news from the RSPCA can all be found here.

Read more: All the latest news from Medway