A Portslade couple have launched a court fight to get their cat back.

Saffie, a ten-month-old silver tabby, would often spend the night cadging food and a place to sleep in neighbours' homes.

But owner Suzie Wainman began to worry after she had been missing for four days just before Christmas.

She and husband Paul scoured the streets, put up missing posters, offered a reward for her return and asked the RSPCA if she had been handed in.

They were left with just a memento of their pet - a picture of her sitting under their Christmas tree, taken days before she vanished.

Suzie said: "We didn't know where she had gone or who had her. It was the worst Christmas ever."

Then they discovered Saffie had been handed in to the Fiveways Cat Rescue shelter in Brighton but the missing moggie was treated as though she was homeless and abandoned.

The couple dashed there, only to be told a cat which fitted the description of Saffie had been given away.

She had a new name and a new home.

The Wainmans say Michael and Jane Tulley, who have run the rescue organisation from their home for six years, would not tell the Wainmans where the cat was.

The couple, who have dedicated their lives to rescuing abandoned and injured cats, said the animal had been handed in as a stray and rehomed.

Determined to prove Saffie is rightfully theirs, the Wainmans have launched a court battle to get her back.

The couple, of Garden Close, Portslade, are suing the Tulleys for the return of the cat they believe is their pet.

At Brighton County Court they showed Judge John Robinson the picture they had taken of Saffie wearing a collar and sitting under their Christmas tree.

Mrs Wainman said: "It is obvious she is well cared for and is not wild or abandoned as Mr and Mrs Tulley claim. After she did not come home for four nights we became very worried."

Mr and Mrs Tulley submitted a written defence to the Wainmans' claim as part of their case.

However, the Tulleys failed to turn up for the hearing yesterday and the case was adjourned until February 20.

Judge Robinson made an order compelling them to tell the Wainmans the name and address of the cat's new owners.

He said that would enable the Wainmans to approach the new owners to see if they were willing to give it back voluntarily.

The judge also warned the Tulleys would be in contempt of court if they failed to do so or did not attend the new hearing.

He told the Wainmans: "It is urgent this is sorted out because, if it is your cat, the bond she has with you will become weaker the longer this goes on.

"It may be the cat has to be brought to court so I can decide whether it is the same as the one in the photograph."

Michael Tulley said: "I don't really want to comment about the case.

"We thought it was all being dealt with in writing and had no idea we were supposed to be at court today."