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Syrian couple are reunited with their CAT they thought was dead after a photo of them carrying the tabby in a sling on a life raft to Europe went viral

Al Kadri, 26, and his wife Nadia, arrived in Greece from Syria by sea
Brought their kitten Zaytouna with them in a home-made sling
Upon arrival at refugee camp in Germany, the cat was quarantined
Government official found them and returned Zaytouna by surprise

By Annabel Fenwick Elliott for MailOnline

Published: 09:09 GMT, 18 December 2015 | Updated: 10:36 GMT, 18 December 2015

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When a husband and wife fleeing Syria made it all the way from their war-torn country safely to Greece in a life raft - with their beloved kitten in tow - the story went viral.

Shortly afterwards, Al Kadri, 26, and his wife Nadia arrived in Germany, where they now live, but Zaytouna the tabby cat was quarantined and amid the chaos and the language barrier, it was unclear whether they could ever get her back.

But after fearing that their feline had been put down under stringent immigration regulations, the pair were delighted to be reunited with her a few months later when she was delivered to their door.

Al Kadri, a 26-year-old Syrian refugee, carried his kitten with him on a life raft over to Greece (left), before she was quarantined, feared lost, and then reunited with her family earlier this month (right) in Germany

Mr Kadri told Buzzfeed: '[A government worker] told me in most cases when people bring their pets from Syria they just kill the animal,' yet it was that same worker who surprised the couple months later by bringing Zaytouna back to them.

When Mr and Mrs Kadri fled Syria, they were forced to leave almost all their worldly belongings behind them.

But they couldn't bear to be parted with Zaytouna, which translates to 'Olive', so Mr Kadri, a former journalist with a degree in architectural engineering, wrapped her in a home-made sling and brought her along as they made the dangerous journey over land and sea.

As the trio passed through Greece, photos of them captured the attention of the world, but when they finally wound up at their refugee camp in Suhl, Germany, this unorthodox family were forced apart.

'[A government worker] told me in most cases when people bring their pets from Syria they just kill the animal,' Mr Kadri said, pictured with his wife Nadia and their precious feline

The same government worker surprised the couple by delivering Zaytouna to their door, after which Mr Kadri said, 'The first thing she did was come crawl into bed with us'

Zaytouna was detained and quarantined, as all animals without a pet passport are required to be, for disease prevention purposes.

Mr Kadri said at the time that he had no idea whether they would get her back at all.

In mid-December, however, a government worker turned up at their temporary home with Zaytouna, not so much a kitten now as a cat.

The official reportedly claimed that many pets in Zaytouna's position are put down, but that members of staff at the holding facility 'fell in love' with her.

'The first thing she did was come crawl into bed with us,' Mr Kadri reported. 'She remembers her name, she knows she is with her family.'