CAT owner Martyn Yetman was relieved to be disturbed at the unearthly hour of 4am by the familiar high-pitched cry of his beloved cat after the pet had been missing for three days.

Martyn, of Wentworth Park, Freshbrook, had spent sleepless nights worrying that six-year-old Blueberry Muffin Date had joined the number of felines that have gone missing in the area over the past couple of months.

“I have been deeply concerned that more than 20 cats have gone missing in the local area recently, it’s been endemic,” said Martyn, who had trawled the streets for days putting up posters trying to highlight the dangers.

“Blue just strolled in through the cat flap, brazen as you like, and came upstairs shouting his head off demanding food,” said Martyn.

“At first I thought I was imagining it as I have been hearing his distinctive miaow since he went missing as I have been so upset.”

Even though his furry friend returned home on Tuesday, Martyn still wants to alert people to the risk of losing their cats.

“Around 65 per cent of cats are poached by people who entice them into their homes and decide they want to keep them,” he said.

“I am wondering if that might have happened to Blue but he was sent on his way because he has such a set of vocals on him, whoever had him might have got fed up.”

After treating Blue to a tasty breakfast, Martyn says the British short-haired blue, tried to escape again.

“But I wasn’t having any of that,” he said. “The cat flap is staying locked for a while.”