A seven-year-old boy is desperate to get his beloved pet back.

Black and white cat Toby has been missing since Monday night when he managed to escape from the Aristocats Boarding Cattery in Snave, near Romney Marsh.

His owner, Samantha Naylor, from Ashford, had placed him in the cattery the previous Friday before she went on holiday with her four sons.

However, the mischievous pet is understood to have escaped from the top of the pen he was in sometime between Monday night and Tuesday morning.

Sam’s friend Anthony Beedell, who is helping look for Toby, said he was “lived” when he found out Toby was missing on Tuesday.

He said: “It is very upsetting.

“He was entrusted to the cattery. But he managed to get out of his cage.

“He is a very timid thing. Something must have scared him.

“The cattery have said they are sorry but at the same time no help has been offered. They haven’t put posters up or called us to see if he has turned up.”

“It is very upsetting. He was entrusted to the cattery." - Anthony Beedell

Samantha bought Toby as a kitten two years ago for her son Brayden, seven, who has autism.

Anthony adds: “Brayden kept saying how much he loved cats. He had cat toys which he was always cuddling.

“He loved Toby; he is always playing with him, or he will sit on his lap.

“Toby doesn’t venture too far; he doesn’t go out that much so this is probably quite daunting for him.”

Since his disappearance, Anthony said Brayden has been left distraught, as have the whole family.

Aristocats owner Peter Fogden, who did not charge the family for Toby’s boarding, said: “Of course we don’t like losing a cat.

“Toby is micro-chipped and if he is found hopefully someone will have the sense to take him to a vet.”

He said Toby was “very settled” during his stay at the cattery and that he ate his dinner the night before he escaped.

He said that the cat got out of his pen through a space in the wire, but added: “The pen he was in has been there for seven or eight years and a cat has never got out of it before.

He said: “I’ve informed neighbours and searched around, but we are surrounded by farm fields.

“I do hope someone will spot him.”

Have you seen Toby? Please call Anthony on 07580511507.