A terrified mum fears a wild fox that repeatedly smashes through the cat flap to snuggle on her sofa could attack her children.

Limara Slade is at her wit's end with the nocturnal creature after it astonishingly made her Dover living room its home.

Not only has the worried mother-of-three squirted the animal with a water pistol, but she has resorted to banging pots together to keep him away.

Experts believe the fox has befriended Miss Slade’s family moggy, called Ginger, and that is why it keeps returning.

Such is the fox’s determination to see its feline friend each night, it has recently broken three cat flaps to get inside.

“I'm worried he may bite or attack,” the 31-year-old said.

“I don't want any harm done to the fox but would like him away from my house.

“They carry diseases, fleas and ticks. My concern is my children.

“I have three kids in the house aged nine, 11 and 14.

“I only have a downstairs toilet which is next to the cat flap and I am worried that myself or my children will go out there one night and he comes in.”

The cunning fox originally started camping in Miss Slade’s garden a few months ago, which, she explained, “wasn’t a problem”.

But trouble started when she and her children returned home to find the animal curled on the sofa with Ginger.

“I have tried a few things: shouting, banging pots and a water pistol, which hasn't worked,” she said.

“He lies in the bank at the back of my house.

“This was never an issue until he started to come in through the cat flap.

“My children and I went out one day and came home to find him curled up on my sofa with my cat Ginger.

“He ran out the cat flap after me shouting at him to get out.

“The fox continues to come in every night and has now decided to curl up on my cat’s bed in my kitchen.”

Concerned for little Jayden, Carlie-Grace and Kenley’s safety, Miss Slade has been forced to buy three new cat flaps due to the animal breaking them.

Miss Slade posted her plight on social media and received a mixed bag of reaction, with some even claiming they would be “thrilled” to have a resident fox.

Jane Wilson commented: “I would love that.

“You’re very lucky he wants to come in. He is looking for warmth and comfort.

“You could build him a den outside so he’s free to come and go. Leave some eggs outside and he won’t come in.

“I would be thrilled if it was my house he came to, what an honour.”

Patricia Sheen added: “You should think yourself lucky he's chosen you.

“I wish I had one coming to visit.”

The Fox Project, a Kent-based charity dedicated to rescuing the furry creatures, believes the problem lies in the animal recently befriending Ginger.

Founder Trevor Williams said: “It’s pretty uncommon but that’s not to say we don’t hear of it.

“I’d say we have two or three cases a month, but that’s across the whole UK.

“It happens the most at this time of year and it’s usually juvenile foxes.

“This is because the families break up and disperse, and the young foxes haven’t really got the experience to know what to do yet.”

Mr Williams added it is very rare to be attacked by a fox, and they generally will only lash out if they are backed into a corner.

He continued: “They often befriend cats, so it could have followed the cat in.

“Foxes are generally more scared of cats than they are of them, as they know they are better armoured with their claws.

“Unfortunately, there’s not a great deal she can do other than scarring it off and blocking off the cat flap if possible.”

He quipped: “From now they should be dispersing further so he should leave soon, unless he’s really enamoured by the cat.”