The well-known former parish priest of Kooringal Father Wilf Plunkett was reunited with his five-year-old cat, Sooty, when it arrived back at Settlers Village in Estella, after he was forced to give it away late last year.

Fr Plunkett took Sooty in as a kitten six years ago, but gave it to a family in Downside when he moved into an apartment at the village.

"Evidently he decided to come home," Fr Plunkett said.

"I was walking along and he just grabbed my trousers with his paws.

"I was thrilled of course.

"He won't let me out of his sight now.

"He follows me around day and night."

Sooty decided to return home after walking 15km along Coolamon Road and past the university, to the very villa where he had formerly lived.

"He is very determined," Fr Plunkett said.

"He's very friendly.

"He follows me on my walks twice a day like a dog.

"He's a real resident mouse catcher.

"He's well-known here."

Fr Plunkett has always had an affinity with cats.

"One thing I do like about cats is they don't bark like dogs," he said.

Unable to stay at Settlers apartments, Sooty was found a home today with a young family in Wagga.

Fr Plunkett hopes the new residents at his old villa will be cat lovers in case he returns again.