When Bristol pensioner Mary Groves' husband died two years ago, her family bought her a feline companion called Tilly.

But the three-year-old Persian flat-faced cat has gone missing while staying at Mrs Groves' son's house in south Bristol.

The family hope that Tilly will come home for when great-grandmother Mrs Groves, 80, moves into her new Knowle home on Sunday.

Her daughter-in-law Trudy, 43, said: "Tilly would sit on the sofa arm and look at Mary. They had a very special bond.

"She had been staying with us for six weeks and was good as gold, but then she went out the window one day and didn't come back."

She added: "I was gutted. I cried for days. I just expected her to keep coming back. Mary is really upset, but she's the type of person who won't show it, because she doesn't want us to feel embarrassed. She does miss her."

Mrs Groves, who is living temporarily with her daughter in Severn Beach until she moves into her new home, had a special bond with Tilly.

Her daughter-in-law said: "When her husband died the whole family got together and bought her the cat. Tilly is not valuable to anyone else because she's neutered.

"It was her granddaughter's idea to get her a cat. She asked her if she gets lonely, and she said she did sometimes, so we all thought what we could do about that. We all clumped together and got her a cat for the company."

Mrs Groves' son Colin, 53, and his wife, had been looking after the cat at their home in Newlyn Walk, for six weeks, but two weeks ago, she didn't come home.

The family have put up flyers on every second lamppost in Knowle, in newsagents, and have asked for binmen to keep an eye out for her.

Mr Groves said: "If you have her, please bring her back. She is worth so much to my mum. If we could afford a reward we would offer one, but we can't. Please bring her back to make an elderly woman happy again."

The family said that Tilly's tongue always sticks out, she doesn't purr, but makes funny nose noises like a baby. She is a small cat, about 30cm long, and fat, with massive yellow-orange eyes.

She is not tagged or collared because she was a house cat.

Mrs Groves added: "Mum moves into her new home on Sunday. We'd love Tilly to be home for that."

If you know where Tilly is, call theBristol Evening Postnewsroom on 0117 934 3319.