The RSPCA has rescued a 'crafty' cat who was trapped in North East house for two weeks.

An intrepid feline had been exploring an empty house before the property was boarded-up, leaving the curious cat to survive on dead pigeons for two weeks.

The Northern Echo: RSPCA rescues cat trapped in boarded-up Hartlepool house for two weeks

Felix, a four-year-old female, black and white cat, had been missing from her Hartlepool home for 10 days before her owner, Joanne Keir, heard a familiar cry.

Joanne followed the familiar sound to an abandoned house three doors down, and in the top window she saw her missing cat.

She said: “Felix must have been exploring inside the house and they boarded it up not realising she was inside. She’d been missing for 10 days at this point, and I just couldn’t believe it when I spotted her. I'd stopped eating, I was so stressed about her.

“I phoned the RSPCA as my last hope as I’d stopped hearing her cries and I was so worried about her. I’d be lost without Felix. It was a hard 10 days but I have her back now, that’s all that matters.”

The Northern Echo: It is believed Felix was living under a gap in the floorboards

It is believed Felix was living under a gap in the floorboards and is thought to have been eating dead pigeons to survive.

With help from the local police force RSPCA inspector Steph Baines gained access to the derelict property in Furness Street, Hartlepool, on Monday, February 12, and was able to set a cat trap with some food inside in attempts to rescue Felix.

The Northern Echo: Felix was trapped in a derelict property in Furness Street, Hartlepool

However, ‘crafty’ Felix worked out how to outsmart the trap, taking the food and evading capture.

Steph returned to the house to check the trap multiple times over the next few days even trying a different, more sensitive trap before finally managing to catch and reunite Felix with her worried owner on Thursday February, 15 after two weeks of being missing.  

The Northern Echo: Felix the 'crafty' cat tried to evade capture

Steph said: “As the house was derelict, there were lots of hiding places and we believe she was spending most of her time in the back bedroom hiding under the floorboards.

“After setting a trap and checking it for days we eventually caught her. Apart from being very hungry and dirty, she was otherwise fine and glad to be home.

“As we all strive to create a better world for every animal, happy endings like this really are the best part of the job!”

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Her grateful owner, Joanne, explained that Felix has settled in very well back at home with their three other cats and one dog.

The Northern Echo: Felix is reunited with her owner

She said: “She rules the roost here. It’s as though she’s never been away. I don’t know what I would have done if it wasn’t for the RSPCA. I honestly don’t think we would have got her back without them.”

Joanne takes part in the Race for Life every year for Cancer Research UK in memory of her partner - but this year she will also be raising money to help the RSPCA as a thank you to the charity for rescuing Felix.

For more information on how you can donate to the RSPCA visit www.rspca.org.uk/give.