WHERE is our precious? That was the question an Ipswich family was left asking after their pet cat Smeegle went missing from home The pedigree Sphynx cat has gone missing from his Ravenswood home - and with no fur to protect him from the chillier autumnal temperatures, its owner is worried for its well-being.

WHERE is our precious? That was the question an Ipswich family was left asking after their pet cat Smeegle went missing from home

The pedigree Sphynx cat has gone missing from his Ravenswood home - and with no fur to protect him from the chillier autumnal temperatures, its owner is worried for its well-being.

The unusual cat, named Smeegle after his lookalike from the Lord of the Rings, was last seen at home in the Ravenswood estate, in the south east of the town, on Tuesday .

Now his owner is desperate to return him to his usual indoor life before the cold becomes too much.

The one-year-old moggy's owner Carli Bolingbroke is even offering a reward for anyone who finds and safely returns him.

The lack of a thick insulating coat makes the Sphynx very warm to the touch. But for the same reason they must be kept out of adverse weather conditions, including sun which can cause burns on their delicate skin.

And with winter around the corner, it is important Smeegle is found before temperatures plummet.

Sphynx, which secrete oil from their skin and require frequent bathing, became a recognized breed in the mid 1970s.

Their ears appear disproportionately large, wide at the base and round-tipped, while they have no eyelashes or whiskers.

The cats, originally from Canada, have a lifespan from anything between nine and 15 years.

Without fur to regulate their body temperature Sphynx need to be kept warm and will seek out cosy places, often turning up in open tumble driers and washing machines.

Anyone with details as to Smeegle's whereabouts should call 01473 414552.

Have you got an unusual pet? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk

Fast Facts: The Sphynx

The texture of the skin is like chamois leather, unlike normal skin and with a distinctly warm feel

Affectionate and people-oriented, Sphynx are playful and love snuggling up to owners

The first formal breeding programme began in Canada in 1966

Kittens are born with a covering of fine down which they lose as they mature

Source www.moggies.co.uk

In the Lord of the Rings Smeegle was the hobbit whose body became deformed after discovering the ring and who evolved into the malevolent Gollum.