The battle over a tug-of love cat is set to run with her real owners demanding compensation from cat rescuers who gave her a new home.

Suzie and Paul Wainman told a judge the loss of the cat had caused them anxiety and distress.

They also said they had been forced to spend money on legal action to get their beloved silver tabby Saffie returned to them.

She went missing a few days before Christmas and the Wainmans and their three children were not finally reunited with her until Monday.

Saffie was picked up as a stray by Michael and Jane Tully, who run Fiveways Cat Rescue from their Brighton home.

Mrs Wainman told a judge at Brighton County Court: "We are really happy to have her back.

"However, this has cost us quite a lot of money through no fault of our own.

"It seems as if we should have some kind of compensation for all of the grief and anxiety we have been through.

"Mr Tully must have a very strange sense of humour because when he returned her to us he presented us with a bill.

"I also told them I did not want her spayed and that is how she has come back to us."

Mr Tully has launched a counter-claim for the £124 it cost to have Saffie spayed, fitted with an identity microchip and to feed and keep her for 11 days.

She was found a new home with a family in Newhaven, who agreed to give her back after The Argus highlighted the legal battle over her.

Mr Tully did not attend the original court hearing on February 4 and was ordered to appear before Judge John Robinson when the case resumed.

He was warned he could be in contempt of court if he failed to appear but he did not turn up again when the case was heard on Wednesday.

The judge accepted a letter from him explaining he was seeing off a relative who was leaving the country for a long time.

The judge said: "My advice to both parties, now the cat has been given back, is they should take legal advice to see if they want to continue with this course of action."

The hearing was adjourned until March 6.