The moggy, named Versace after one of his home country's best-known fashion designers, was found in a crate before ending up in Saughall.

Versace spent five days in the crate travelling from Italy, through to Switzerland, France and onto the UK.

He was discovered by officers of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and Brett Cassidy at the Little Creek Quarantine Kennels in Saughall, was informed.

Brett said: "Normally cats who have been trapped can be feral but he was quite friendly and so must have been around people.

"He's quite a good cat and very playful.

"I think he is a bit overawed by this.

"He was filthy but has started cleaning himself now and is good when handled."

Versace will now have to stay in quarantine for six months, but can be re-homed after this.

Brett has seen many cats end up this country after getting into transport by accident.

He said: "Most of them have been feral, that is, a wild cat which has had no human contact.

"Once we had to find a cat which was on a Pakistan International Airlines flight from Istanbul.

"It got into the hold and then popped up near the captain's seat.

"When the plane got to Manchester we did a search and found it in the back of the plane in some cupboards amongst toilet roll!"

Unfortunately feral cats cannot be rehomed and normally have to be put down.

The Storrar practice veterinary surgery in Tarvin Road, Boughton, has donated all the vaccinations for Versace, a tom cat, and the RSPCA has volunteered to neuter him when he is out of quarantine.

The rest of the care will be funded by the quarantine centre but any donations are welcome.

Celia Blyth, a worker at the quarantine centre, said: "He's lovely.He's only young and he needs someone to play with."

Brett homes cats and dogs in quarantine, but also has horses, a donkey
and a turkey called Sid at the kennels.

He added: "We think we have got a home for Versace but if anybody is interested they can ring us."

You can call the kennels on 01244 880267.