A Larkfield family has been left devastated after their beloved cat was put to sleep without their knowledge.

Kitty, a ginger tom, had been with Sandra Hall and her family after they adopted him from a former neighbour nine years ago.

On Friday, August 1, he was let out at the usual time of 7pm but failed to return home to Macaulay Road.

Mrs Hall, 59, said: “He was the most loving and affectionate cat and was part of the family. He always gets let out at the same time each evening and returns at around 10pm.”

When he didn’t return, she and husband James went to look for him, but came back empty handed and anxious.

The next day Sandra and her neighbours put out posters and contacted the RSPCA.

“I was absolutely distraught. They can track mail but not a cat. They said I could have the dead body back”

On Sunday the mother of two received a phone call saying Kitty had been handed to the RSPCA.

Mrs Hall contacted the animal charity at least eight times on Saturday and was told someone would call back the following day.

“I waited all day by the phone and nobody called,” she said.

On Tuesday, in desperation, she found the email address of the organisation’s CEO and contacted him.

An hour later an inspector arrived and informed her Kitty had been put to sleep.

“I was absolutely distraught. They can track mail but not a cat. They said I could have the dead body back,” she said.

An RSPCA spokesman confirmed it took the pet to a veterinary practice for treatment, which also tried to contact the owners, but the microchip contained the previous owners’ details who could not be traced.

The spokesman added: “The cat sadly deteriorated and a vet made the decision to put it to sleep.

“This is an extremely unfortunate situation as we have now been made aware a lady has been looking after this cat for nine years but had not had the cat microchipped with her own details. She is understandably extremely distressed.

“Our inspector has since spoken to her about exactly which processes were followed and has reassured her that we did try to do our best for this cat.”