Canterbury's famous sports predicting cat Leon has made his first massive call of the 2014 football World Cup – England to beat Italy on Saturday night.

The playful three-year-old Tonkinese stunned gamblers and earned nationwide recognition when 89% of his forecasts proved correct at the 2012 European Championships.

Now he has made his first predictions for this year's World Cup in Brazil.

Owner Ted Phillips dangled three pieces of steak from the butcher at the Goods Shed in Station Road West from a bamboo cane.

Each one represented one of the possible outcomes - and England fans will be delighted with the cat's first pick.

Chef Ted, 47, said: "I'm not convinced by the idea of an England win as beating the Italians will be tough, but you have to go with what Leon said.

"After doing so well at the Euros two years ago, he had national publicity.

"Among his successes then were forecasting England to go out to Italy in the quarter-finals and then he picked Spain to beat Italy in the final."

Video: Canterbury cat Leon makes his World Cup predictions

Ted also placed three bowls with cat food so Leon could predict tonight's opening match between hosts Brazil and Croatia.

Like most, Leon reckons Brazil will win.

Leon upped his sport predicting pedigree last year when he correctly forecast the British and Irish and Lions' sequence of win-lose-win results against Australia during their tour Down Under last summer.

Asked what makes him such a success, Ted said: "He's playful, highly intelligent, sleek and has hypnotic blue eyes – perfect for seeing into the future."