It's really her! Family finally reunited with Willow, the cat who was lost for FIVE years and travelled 1,600 miles across the U.S.

‘Hey, kitty cat,’ screamed three-year-old Lauren ‘Lola’ Squires – who was not even born when Willow went missing – when she saw the cat at a special meeting in a New York hotel.

Back with her family: Willow with, from left, Jack Squires, 10, and his sisters Shelby, 17 and Lola, three, who was not even born when the cat disappeared

Remember us? Julie Bank (right) of New York's Animal Care and Control, reintroduces Willow to Chris Squires and his children Jack and Lola

The story of missing Willow gripped the U.S after she was found on a Manhattan street more than 1,600 miles from home. Fortunately she had been chipped as a kitten and the owners could be traced.

But no one could understand how Willow managed to get from her home in Colorado to the streets of New York - even though she had five years to make the journey.

However the mystery was solved when a man came forward to claim that Willow – known to him as Molly - was flown on an airplane.

Jamie and Chris Squires were ‘shocked’ to hear where Willow had been found.

The Squires and their three children travelled from their home in Boulder, Colorado to be reunited with Willow at the Hilton New York hotel last night.