A cat has returned to its owner more than six years after going missing.

Smokey was last seen in Denise Bilowus' backyard in Edmonton, Canada, in April 2002.

The owner held out hope that one day Smokey would return, and this week received a message from Edmonton Animal Control saying that the cat had been found.

Bilowus now insists that people with pets get them tagged in some way to cut the chances of losing them.

"I wanted to let people know that it's important to get your cat tattooed ... And if a person does find a cat they [should] turn it in," she said.