‘We went from mourning to thinking ‘he’s just come back from the dead’: Jon Snow’s owners

Like his namesake from Game of Thrones, Jon Snow the Rosebud cat has been resurrected. In a Christmas miracle, the moggy that went missing in November 2021 was found, 110km from home.

A Rosebud family is celebrating a heartwarming Christmas miracle after their cat, who went missing two years ago, was finally found more than 100km from home.

Katie Swanson, 38, and her partner Luke Milroy, 39, had long dreamt of the moment they would reunite with beloved pet Jon Snow, after he suddenly vanished from their Rosebud property in November 2021.

That wish finally came true last week when Mr Milroy received a voice message from an unknown number.

A staff member from a veterinary clinic in Newhaven on Phillip Island – roughly 110km from their home on the Peninsula – had called to say someone had brought in their furry friend.

“We went from mourning to thinking ‘he’s just come back from the dead’,” an elated Mr Milroy told the Herald Sun.

John Snow the Rosebud cat. Picture: Brendan Beckett

And Jon Snow the Game of Thrones character. Picture: Helen Sloan/HBO

By the time he listened to the message the clinic had closed for the weekend. 

The couple were forced to wait until the following Monday to be reunited after Jon Snow was collected by council workers and transferred to a clinic in Wonthaggi. 

Eagerly awaiting his arrival back home was the couple’s one-year-old daughter Murphy, along with their other cat Denis.

“In the car home, I was trying to explain to Jon Snow that we have a baby now because all that happened after he ran away, ” Ms Swanson said.

“It’s been a crazy week, it’s all happening.”

The couple were shocked at just how far the feline had travelled since that fateful night when he first went missing. 

“He was just hanging out with us inside and he just got outside,” Mr Milroy explained when asked how the misadventure first unfolded.

Ms Swanson said her mind turned to the worst when a search around their neighbourhood proved fruitless.

“Eventually, I kind of just thought ‘OK, he’s not coming back’,” she said. “It was awful, I didn’t sleep properly for I think three days.

Kate Swanson, Luke Milroy, their cat John Snow and daughter Murphy. Picture: Brendan Beckett

“At least once a week, if not more, I’d have these dreams where he was back.

“As days go on, you sort of go from hopeful to mournful, thinking ‘we’re never going to see him again’.”

Mr Milroy said both Denis and Jon Snow, named after the popular Game of Thrones character, immediately hit it off again as though no time had passed.

Fortunately, their returned traveller showed up both happy and healthy.

“His ears had some dermatitis and some scabs on them,” Ms Swanson said.

“Other than that, he’s in a pretty good condition.”

As if there weren’t enough reasons to celebrate with Christmas around the corner, the couple also marked the first birthday of daughter Murphy – and Jon Snow’s new best friend – on Thursday.