Quite the character, his disappearance was traumatic for his owners Michelle and Brian Merry who were devastated by his loss searching far and wide, asking around the neighbourhood and even putting calls out on the radio.

So they were blown away when they got word while overseas last month that Sebastian had been trapped in the Quaama area 50 kilometres to south.

In good health and appearing not to be feral, he’d been taken to the vet in Cobargo, his microchip revealing his true identity.

He was handed over to their daughter by the Bega shire ranger, who took him so he’d be waiting for his real owners when they arrived home.

“He was hungry but looked like he was in amazing condition,” she said.

Michelle does not know who trapped and handed him in, nor where he had been living for the five years, she is just thrilled to have him back home.

How Sebastian came to be missing and how he got to Quaama also remains a mystery and in a possible sinister connection, and their other black cat Sophie also disappeared only two months later.

Brian reckons the Sebastian disappearance occurred around the time the Geelong Cats won the AFL Grand Final, and perhaps there was some connection there.

Since his disappearance, the couple have acquired another cat from their daughter, and this cat is now having to get used to Sebastian moving back home.

The 11-year-old Sebastian has settled in like he was never gone.

He even has his same old habits like jumping up on the kitchen table, but he has new rules of not being allowed outside, as his owners don’t want to risk losing him again.

They would love to know if anyone in the Quaama area or anywhere else recognises Sebastian as they are sure he must have been well looked after during those missing years.

Member of the Eurobodalla branch of the Animal Welfare League Daiva Ceicys has recently reminded all pet owners that cats and dogs are required to have a name tag, so when they do go missing they can easily be reunited with their owners.