A cat-lover in Melksham is battling to get back a pet that was rehomed without his knowledge.

Richard Smith says after his son’s Oriental spotted tabby went missing last month, Bath Veterinary Group rehomed it. Now, the new owner is refusing to return the animal to his family.

Tazzy went missing on March 28 and son Rowan rang around local vets’ practices to see if he had been found, after it became clear he was not just staying with a neighbour.

Mr Smith said: “He had been found, unconscious and shivering, at Clackers Brook, which is only about 150 yards away.

“Tazzy had been handed into the Chapel Surgery and been sent to the hospital in Bath and had been patched up. They said he had been fostered and that we should get him back by the end of the day.”

However, later that day the fosterer, Joe Fenton, of Bath, called Rowan, 19.

Mr Smith said: “He accused us of abusing the cat. Basically, he said we’re not getting the cat back.

“Rowan didn’t expect that kind of response. He rang the vets and explained what had happened and, all of a sudden, they changed their mind and said Tazzy had been rehomed. The family is pretty upset.”

Mr Smith has complained to the Chapel Surgery, part of Bath Veterinary Group, but to no avail.

He has now approached animal welfare charity the RSPCA, which is looking into the matter. He said: “It’s a very difficult situation. What I didn’t like was that the vets seemed to want to wash their hands of it very, very quickly and that aggravated the situation.”

Bath Veterinary Group declined to comment to the Wiltshire Times, but, in a letter to Mr Smith, Alasdair Moore, the director of Bath Veterinary Group, said: “This is a very unfortunate situation.

“We acted in the best interests of the cat and always put its welfare as a priority. We provided all the necessary treatment and, after a reasonable time, with no owner coming forward, we arranged to rehome the cat.

“Vets are not in a position to decide on a matter of ownership. We therefore cannot offer any more help in resolving the situation and suggest you seek your own legal advice.”

Mr Fenton, of Ashley Avenue in Bath, said: “If Mr Smith believes there has been any wrongdoing, he should report it to the police and go down the proper sources.”