text: A cat has been freed after spending 27 days trapped under a bath tub, it has been revealed. Simba was rescued by firefighters in Meckenheim, near Bonn, Germany, after a neighbour heard scratching in her newly refitted bathroom. Owners Helga and Eberhard Henkel had lost their pet in early March and had looked everywhere - even hanging up notices in surrounding streets. Lucky escape: Simba the cat was freed by firefigthers after spending 27 days trapped under a bath tub . Pet rescue: It is thought the animal had crawled under the floor boards as the bathroom was being renovated . But nearly four weeks later, a neighbour  raised the alarm after hearing noises from under the bath. It is thought the animal had crawled under the floor as the bathroom was being renovated. According to The Local, Mrs Henkel told a local newspaper: 'It's a miracle, a gift. 'We looked everywhere for Simba, hung up notices, watched out for cats' eyes with a torch at night.' She said that Simba was showing the effects of not having eaten for four weeks - but that he had put back on 300 grammes. Owners Helga and Eberhard Henkel (pictured with Simba) had lost their pet in early March and had looked everywhere - even hanging up notices in surrounding streets . On the mend: Although Simba was 'traumatised' by his experience, he is quickly recovering and has put back on 300 grammes . 'He is skin and bones. You feel all the ribs, the backbone, Simba has fallen sharply and is traumatised,' Die Welt quotes her as saying. The Local quotes Professor Neigel an animal expert from Giessen, Germany, as saying cats were capable of surviving for long periods on only a small amount of water. He said that a month was still a long time for a cat to survive, but that it was not 'out of the ordinary'.
target: Simba went missing in early March in the town of Meckenheim, Germany .
  His owner's neighbour heard scratching in her bathroom four weeks later .
  The pet was freed by firefighters and is now starting to put weight back on .