A COUPLE are appealing for information after they returned from honeymoon to find their moggy had survived a 20ft drop to escape out of the window of a block of flats.

James Arben, 32, and Hannah, 33, returned from a month long honeymoon tour of Africa on August 29.

They had left their four-year-old tabby cat, Basil, staying with a friend who lives in a block of flats in Malcolm Way, Snaresbrook, and were horrified to discover on their return that Basil had somehow managed to escape out of a window at the top of the building.

Despite posters being put up in the area and neighbours being quizzed, they have so far been unable to find any sign of Basil.

Mr Arben said:“It is ironic that we had just been to see the big cats on honeymoon. My mum ran on the way back to say that basil had gone missing on the 15th. They didn’t want to tell us before because we were on holiday.

“We were very shocked. Jess, who was looking after him was devastated.

“I could not believe it when I saw the height of the drop. I thought she must have crawled away to die somewhere but we could not find any trace of her so she must have survived.”

“She is friendly and quite inquisitive with a big bushy tail. In lots of ways she is more like a dog than a cat.

Jess Adams, 33, who was looking after Basil while the couple were away, said: “It would have been really difficult for her to have got out because the window was only opened a tiny bit.

“I was so anxious when I realised she had gone and asked all the neighbours if they had seen anything.

“She was a feral cat before being taken in so I hope she will be fine out there.”

James and Hannah are offering a reward for Basil’s return and anyone with information is asked to call 07798 825 163.