These are the railings that almost cost Sini the cat his life.

He became impaled on them, narrowly missing a main artery, and had to be cut free by firefighters.

After an operation the two-year-old pet is doing well at Animed in Oxford Street, Whitstable, to the relief of his owner Deborah Clarke.

“I couldn’t believe it when I first saw him at the vets because he looked in such a state,” she said.

“But he was so pleased to see us and I’m so grateful to the man who called the fire brigade and to them for helping him.

“He really is lucky to be alive and he is doing well – the railings missed his artery and his muscles so he is so lucky.”

Sini, and his playmate Tom, are extra special to the Clarke family because they were bought just after their 12-year-old son Tom died from cancer in 2006.

“Tom loved cats and his brother and sister, Jack and Hannah, were keen on the idea so we got two kittens,” said Mrs Clarke, of Railway Avenue,Whitstable.

“We called them Tom and Sini because my dad used to call Tom Tomasini, so it was another way of remembering him.”

The incident happened on Saturday night in Teynham Road, Whitstable. The Clarkes think Sini fell from a tree onto the railings.