A Bengal cat has been accused of terrorising other cats in its neighbourhood, picking fights in territorial disputes and running up hundreds of pounds in vets bills.

Since the pedigree cat, Kofi, moved into Aylward Road, Merton Park, about four years ago, neighbours say that they have seen an increase in the number and ferocity of cat fights in the street.

But although its owners, teachers Chris and Caroline Hykiel, admit that Kofi could be responsible, they say that it is normal cat behaviour and there is nothing more they can do to stop it.

Peter Gunn believes that Kofi's attacks affected his pets, Lollipop and Vinny, so badly they eventually had to be put down.

He said: "Lollipop got to the stage where she was just absolutely unhappy and wouldn't go out, so eventually I had her put down.

"Vinny had a bit more gumption, she carried on for six months but then she got to a stage where I decided that I was going to have to have her put down, and soon afterwards she disappeared."

Vera and Les Wallace said since Kofi moved in, their formerly placid cats Sheba and Toby have changed.

Another cat-owning neighbour, who asked not to be named, said: "It is definitely a very aggressive cat. Usually cats work out who is boss, but this is more than who's boss, this is actually dangerous.

"You feel nervous about putting your cat outside. None of them are safe whilst he is at large."

The problems were first aired in the summer of 2002, when the Hykiels sent a letter to their neighbours saying they were putting Kofi on tranquillisers and a high protein diet, making him wear a collar and bell and only letting him out while they were at home.

Since then, Kofi has been taken off the tranquillisers and the Hykiels admit they sometimes have trouble getting him in again when they leave for work in the morning.

But they insist that to follow their neighbours' suggestions of keeping him in all the time, re-homing him or even having him put down would be inhumane.

Caroline Hykiel said: "I do understand the neighbours' concern. Kofi has been injured and we have been to the vet with him.

"He has had hundreds spent on him that is the nature of being a cat owner.

"There is very little else that we can actually do.

"People are saying, why don't you keep your cat in for 14 years?' This is my pet that I love.

"I am not destroying part of my family because of people in my neighbourhood victimising me. He is not a vicious beast."