Published: Just now
The homeless cat Pelefino has become a local celebrity in Bromma in Stockholm.
The reason is that he is believed to have immigrated to Sweden all the way from Spain on his own.
Pelefino’s incredible journey has triggered detective work among the Bromma residents to find the cat’s owner.
– It’s a real mystery, says Bromma resident Jenny Lundgren.
For two years, the homeless Miss Pelefino has lived on the streets of Bromma in Stockholm.
Despite becoming a local celebrity in Facebook groups, no one knew anything about the popular cat’s background – until now.
Through a detective collaboration between Bromma residents Jenny Lundgren and Kristian Schildt, they have managed to track Pelefino all the way to Valencia in Spain.
– I have received help from local Spanish ladies, Spanish cat groups on Facebook and the police in Valencia, says Jenny Lundgren.
Daily fine visits
Last week, Kristian Schildt decided to try to find out who Pelefino’s actual owner is.
This after a month that the cat paid a “nice visit” to the Bilskadespecialisten car workshop where Kristian Schildt works.
– He comes every day almost at the same time. So one day I borrowed a chip machine from a person in the area, he says.
Kristian Schildt got a hit but didn’t know how to proceed with the search. So turned to a Facebook group for help tracking down the numbers.
– Jenny and I don’t know each other, but she saw my post and stepped into this. She has been very cruel, says Kristian Schildt.
Got help from the Spanish police
Jenny Lundgren says she is not a seasoned cat detective. But that she was attracted by the challenge.
Via the internet, she searched various databases for Pelefino’s chip number and finally found that the owner is registered in Valencia, Spain.
The first thing she did then was advertise the cat in Spanish Facebook groups.
– The reason why I took this on was because I saw in front of me a sad Spanish family who missed their beautiful cat, says Jenny Lundgren.
But when no owner came forward, “Spanish local ladies” contacted Jenny Lundgren and helped her get in touch with the Spanish police.
– I can understand a little Spanish, but I speak very crisply. Anyway, I spoke to the police on the phone and they promised to help.
Conducted door knocking in Valencia
The Spanish police found the registered owner and are said to have gone to four of the person’s addresses to inform about Pelefino’s stay in Sweden.
– But no one opened at any of the addresses. So in the end the police felt they couldn’t put that much more police resources on a cat in Sweden. But it was nice that they tried, says Jenny Lundgren.
The search for the owner has now subsided.
– Pelefino is doing well where he lives now. People take care of him, feed him and take him to the vet when needed. I think he lives a pretty good cat life here in Sweden, says Jenny Lundgren.
Did you manage to figure out how Pelefino got all the way to Sweden from Spain?
– Well, it’s a mystery. One theory is that he took a truck from there to here, but it is impossible to say for sure.