A Tug-of-love tom cat is at the centre of a custody battle after going missing and finding a new owner.

Jane Butler, 36, of Dragons Green, Horsham, was devastated when seven-year-old Mooshka disappeared from her farm and she put up notices around the area.

She had registered Mooshka as missing with the RSPCA on March 24 but says the charity did not check the register and re-housed him with another Sussex family.

A neighbour handed Mooshka to the RSPCA after finding him with an injured leg. Miss Butler is taking legal action to get him back.

She said: "It's just horrible. Anyone who has ever lost a pet will know how I feel.

"Part of me is glad because I think my cat is still alive but I am really worried about him.

"I have had him since he was a couple of days old and he has lived as a wild cat with 12 others on my farm. He has not been within a mile of a road in his whole life.

"I am worried he is with a family as he is not used to being kept indoors and he might run into the road and get hit by traffic.

"The cats roam around but when I hadn't seen him for a couple of days I phoned my vet.

"They said they hadn't seen him but in fact he had been handed in and moved to a different branch."

Miss Butler printed more than 200 posters and put them up in post offices and shops.

She said: "My neighbour went on holiday for three weeks and when she came back she saw my posters and called me.

"When I spoke to the RSPCA they said a cat of that description had been handed in but had been rehoused.

"They won't even look at a picture of him to confirm it is the same cat, although I am pretty sure it must be.

"They said they have neutered him and will not tell me where the new family live.

"It's ridiculous that I was told to register the missing cat on the national register but they don't even check it.

"I'm really upset. I've been backwards and forwards between the RSPCA and my vet and no one would tell me what is going on.

"I think he has injured his leg but the RSPCA say I have no right to get my cat back as he is rehoused.

"I have now got a solicitor as it is my pet and I want him back."

The RSPCA's Rebecca Hopkinson said: "I can confirm the RSPCA has received a complaint from Ms Butler and we are looking into it.

"We are investigating the chain of events to ascertain whether the cat Ms Butler reported missing was ever in RSPCA care.

"We hope to resolve the situation as soon as possible.

"We strongly advise owners to microchip their cats to ensure they can be easily reunited if they do stray - something un-neutered cats are even more prone to do."