When a pet goes missing most owners would move heaven and earth to find them, especially when they are 100 miles from home.

Not many, though, would go to the trouble of having 3,000 leaflets printed and then delivering them around the area in a desperate effort to track them down.

That is what Martine Docherty is doing after Kitty escaped out of the front door of her daughter’s home in Glanville Road, Gillingham, in the early hours of Boxing Day.

More than a week later, the 15-year-old pet has still not been found. Miss Docherty lives in Portsmouth and was visiting for Christmas so the cat is not familiar with the area.

She said: “He will be terrified. He usually only goes into the garden and he is very timid, so I’m shocked he even went out the front door.

“I noticed he was missing straight away so we were out calling for him. He hates the cold or the rain so I honestly thought he would be back the following morning but he didn’t appear.”

Miss Docherty has spent hours searching the area, often in the dark, and delayed her return home to continue looking for Kitty.

She had the 3,000 leaflets printed, offering a reward of £250, and has already posted all of these through letterboxes in the area so she is planning to have more produced.

Miss Docherty, who moved from Albany Road in Gillingham to Portsmouth six years ago, said: “I’m so upset and worried about him. He is like a member of the family.

“It totally ruined my Christmas and New Year was awful because I was anxious about the fireworks.

“There has been so many possible sightings but every time there is a report of a sighting, I get my hopes up and then it isn’t him. I went running down to Livingstone Road at 10pm one night because someone thought they saw him. I’ve told people if they do see him, just grab him.

“I’m hoping the reward will give people the incentive to get in touch, even if they are not cat people. But a lot of those who have contacted me have said they don’t want the reward.

“People have been so kind and so many people have been sharing the missing poster online. I’ve been overwhelmed.”

• If you spot Kitty, call 07784 455745