Missing cat: the country’s only cat-sniffer dog, Molly, has failed to bring any good news as Ted remains missing from West Mills, Newbury

A search and rescue operation with the country’s only cat-sniffer dog has still failed to bring any news for the owner of one missing Newbury feline.

Liz Goddard’s 18 month old black cat Ted has been missing from the West Mills area since July 12 – and she is appealing for your help to find him.

A week after he went missing, Mrs Goddard employed the skills of the UK's only cat search dog - Molly.

Molly and her handler ‘Pet Detective’ Colin spent seven hours with Mrs Goddard searching gardens, hedges, sheds, garages and any other hiding spots that the little black cat could possibly be in.

“We were convinced when we started that morning, that we would find him, but sadly we didn’t,” Mrs Goddard added. “Kind people gladly let us into their gardens and everyone was intrigued as to what we were doing.

“The West Mills community has been absolutely amazing. We have about 50 pictures of little black cats that people have kindly sent me but we haven’t had any positive sightings of him.”

As well as calling on the help of Molly – who has starred on BBC’s The Secret Life of the Cat, Thief Trackers, Crime Watch and C4’s The Pet Detectives – Mrs Goddard said she has also been in touch with an animal communicator.

“She’s convinced he’s still alive,” she added.

Mrs Goddard said that her other cat, 14-year-old Max, died in June and she wonders if Ted is out looking for him as the pair were always together.

“We desperately want him to come home,” she said. “He’s such a lovely boy.

“We got Ted when he was about six months old.

“Some people don’t like black cats so we took him in and our friends took in his brother.

“He likes to sleep with a paw on us.”

She said the cat – who is half Russian blue and half British shorthair – walks with a ‘John Wayne’ swagger.

“Ted never goes far and his recall is fantastic,” she added.

“It is just all consuming. It’s the not-knowing that is just awful.

“Everyone has been amazing. We don’t have children and he is like my baby.

“I feel pretty optimistic at the moment, but sometimes you do think the worst.

“We are just desperate to get him home.”

If you think you have any details on Ted’s whereabouts please contact Mrs Goddard on 07876 346147.