A pet cat belonging to an airline steward from London has evaded airport security in both Britain and Canada and completed a gruelling seven-hour Transatlantic flight, inside his suitcase.

The steward said he was shocked when he opened the case in Montreal and Katie, his four-year-old Persian, emerged, looking distinctly battered.

The steward thinks Katie crawled into his case while he was packing.

The cat has been returned to England but must now spend six months in quarantine under British anti-rabies laws.