Derbyshire owner's desperate search for rare African wild cat

Penny Lane, a F2B Savannah, ran out of her owner’s front door in Bolsover two months ago.

The rare breed of wild cat is five-years-old and her owner Paula O’Connor has had her since she was 12-weeks-old.

Paula said: “Penny Lane is a very rare and unique cat and being a wild cat is not permitted to roam so I’ve had to inform the police. She is reported missing with the microchip company, local vets and council too.

“She ran out of the front door on October 2 and I've been actively searching for her ever since. She ran from our old house on Portland Avenue and headed up the street towards the water tower at Hillstown. So far we have had sightings in Glapwell, on the back fields and lanes, and now more recently in Elmton.

"We searched Elmton last night and went to the pub, the Elmtree, and left details. Everyone was so lovely and kind, the kindness of strangers has been absolutely overwhelming, people are so kind and so many residents in the community have helped and still continue to search both physically and by sharing my updates.”

Paula added: “Penny Lane is my pride and joy and my constant shadow, the void it has left in my heart and life is indescribable. I cannot express the profound effect it's had on me. I have searched for the last two months to the point I've ended up with pneumonia and pleurisy. I am already registered disabled due to my lungs and a few other illnesses. I will never ever give up on my baby, she is my world I love and miss her so much, it's absolute agony my heart aches and is so heavy I cannot stress that enough.

“I'm so very grateful for the help I’ve received from local residents within our lovely community in Bolsover. I've also had a wonderful charity help me with thermal drones and thermal imaging cameras they're called K9-SAR on Facebook and are a voluntary charity, they have been so gracious with their time and efforts.”

Rick Aungiers along with Karen Moon are part of the charity called K9-SAR, which use drones and thermal imaging to find lost pets.

Paula added: "I've recently sold my home and moved, however we have a couple of weeks left till completion, once we get to the end of the sale I will be making a charitable donation for all their efforts. I've been out with Rick for hours and hours in total they've been incredibly generous with their time.”