The resourceful feline was struck and seriously injured by a car – but managed to find his own way to the vet!

And, although it's going to be a long, slow recovery, owners Eve Hughes (3) and her mum and dad are delighted Bogart's `Desperate Hours' are behind him.

Black-and-white Bogart suffered critical injuries, including a triple fracture of his left leg, hip displacement and extreme shock, after being run over on a Pittenweem road.

But, despite his condition, he managed to crawl the short distance to vet John Ferguson's garden, where Mr Ferguson luckily found him and was able to save his life.

The vet took the stricken moggy to his St Monans surgery, where he carried out X-rays, administered pain treatment and made him as comfortable as possible before contacting the Hughes family.

Bogart (11) had disappeared just when they returned from holiday, so mum Laura had been out with leaflets about the missing pet – and fortunately put one through Mr Ferguson's door.

Laura explained Bogart had been to the vet for treatment in previous years, and a black and white cat resembling him also lived there, so there was a vague possibility he remembered the place.

However, whether it was instinct or pure coincidence, she said the family was delighted to have him back and very relieved to hear he would survive.

"He's not eating very much and he's in a lot of discomfort, but he's a great big, strong cat – we love him to bits," said Laura, of Ninian Fields, Pittenweem.

"He's not a `crawl in the corner and go to sleep' cat – he's lively, noisy and in your face."

Laura's dad, Don Scott, of Anstruther, added: "He is a much-loved cat by all the family and we are so grateful to the vet for his caring actions, and to the people in Pittenweem who were so kind and responded to the missing cat leaflets and phoned with kind words and support."

Bogart had a brother cat who was run over on the same stretch of road four years ago but sadly did not survive. His name? Humphrey.