The hunt is on for one of Britain’s biggest pet CATS that is so powerful it forced its way out of a ‘secure’ back garden.
Worried John Gould said Merlin, a 20lb Maine Coon, bent chicken wire and popped the fixings to broke free.
The muscular moggy disappeared just three days after being given a home by John and wife Lisa, who have five other cats.
They fenced in their garden in Honiton, Devon to create a large ‘cage’ to stop them escaping.
They suspect Merlin may have escaped in a bid to return to its former owners more than 15 miles away.
The gentle giant hasn’t been seen since September 2 and John has been carrying out a frantic search but fears someone may have taken him in.
John, 60, a retired photographer, said: “I can’t think what else could have happened.
“We have a totally fenced-in back garden but he has somehow managed to escape overnight.
“We thought the garden was absolutely cat-proof but Merlin is so big he has obviously pushed his way out.
“We have put up flyers, contacted every vet in the area and the animal sanctuaries but no one has seen sight of him.
“He’s a massive cat, someone must have spotted him.”
He added: “I rehomed him from Illminster, I thought he might have gone back there but they haven’t seen him either. That would be one hell of a walk for him.
“It’s very possible that someone has found Merlin, thought he was neglected and took him in.
“Merlin is very gentle. We have five other cats, and that is the reason we fenced off the back garden.
“He is obviously a bit of a magician to have escaped from it.”
