This little puss is lucky by name and lucky by nature.

Just a few days ago, it looked as though one of his nine lives was up but thanks to a little boy, fortune is back on the cards for the charmed kitty.

Lucky, so christened because of his close shave, was rescued from the brink of death by eight-year-old Ryan Kluge.

Ryan was playing with his friend Reece Pullen, 11, in a field near his home in Burgess Hill when he stumbled across the cat, trapped in a snare.

The wire was attached around the cat's stomach and tied to a fence. Each time the cat tried to get away, the wire tightened further.

Ryan, who loves animals and already has three cats, fish and a Labrador, ran back home to tell his mum Susan who called the family's vet for help.

Veterinary nurse Helen Bavister came to the rescue and Ryan led them back to the cat.

Susan said: "It was quite a journey. We had to crawl through hedges, cross a field and climb over barbed wire.

"When we got to the cat it was clearly in a lot of pain and very distressed."

Helen, 21, who works at the Mewes Veterinary Clinic in Haywards Heath, cut the wire loose from the fence but could not get it from round the cat's stomach.

She said: "The cat was quite scared and distressed. We think he might be half-feral but he accepted help.

"We took him back to the surgery where the vet unravelled the wire."

Happily, there were no perforations, though the wire had become so tight it had made marks around Lucky's waist.

Julia Mewes, who runs the surgery, said: "It's very lucky Ryan found the cat when he did. I don't think the poor thing could have lasted much longer stuck like that. If it had been bad weather and Ryan hadn't been out playing, the cat probably would have died.

"But it's a happy ending as the cat now has a new home."

When Ryan knew the cat was going to be fine he begged his mother to let him keep it and when she said yes, he christened the creature Lucky.

Susan said: "He kept telling the vet 'We'll have him' and because we already have two other rescued cats it made sense to have another.

"Ryan is so chuffed to have saved something he loves.

"Our house is a bit like an animal sanctuary.

"I was exactly the same as a child, always taking in strays, so now I know what my mum must have gone through."

Lucky now has a home in the spare bedroom and is recovering well from his ordeal.

Susan said: "He has eaten more and seems happy curled up in his new bed.

"We have lots of experience looking after cats. As long as you give them lots of love and attention, they'll be all right."

Helen, who has worked at the vets for three and a half years, said it was an unusual day but all part of her job.

She said: "We often have to make house calls but this is the first time I've had to do anything like this.

"Clambering across fields is not exactly typical but when you get a call like that, all you can do is go straight away.

"I love animals - you have to in my job."