IT was just like a scene from a prisoner of war escape movie.

But this time it was Leo the cat breaking out to freedom through the fence at a Shaldon cattery.

Now it is believed he could be on the run and trying to make his way home to Dawlish.

The eight-year-old was put in the Riverbank Cattery at Teign Harvey while his owners went on holiday.

But they were shocked to hear he had somehow escaped, and now a big hunt is underway by Sandra Shelston and her family, along with the cattery owner.

Leo has form. He once went missing for seven weeks after disappearing from home, before returning dishevelled and undernourished.

‘We had no idea where he had been then, but luckily he recovered. We are a bit annoyed that he was able to get out of the cattery, and fear that he could be trying to get home, and would have to cross Shaldon Bridge and other busy roads to get here,’ said Sandra.

‘It is very upsetting because he means so much to us, and we are desperate to have him back. If anybody has spotted him, please get in touch.’

Karen Huntingdon from the cattery was ‘absolutely devastated’ over Leo’s disappearance.

‘This is the first time in the 24 years we have been running the cattery that anything like this has happened.

During the night he somehow managed to chew through wire and dig under a door to run off. It seems almost impossible that a cat could do that, and we have looked after thousands.

‘It has caused me a lot of stress and I want him found as much as his owners. I have scoured the area looking for Leo, asking people if they have seen him, and flooding the area with flyers.

‘If he survived seven weeks before, then he must be a very savvy cat with street cred, and I am hoping he will be slowly making his way home, probably at night when it is quiet.’

Anybody with any information or possible sightings is asked to call Sandra on 07581 1209704 or Karen on 01626 872762.