THIS cat was more than just a best friend.

For a 13-year-old boy from Stanford in the Vale, unable to leave his house because of a rare medical condition, his moggie Midnight was his lifeline.

Now, the cat’s disappearance has sparked a village-wide search.

Matthew Ayres has a debilitating form of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) called Paediatric Autoimmune Illness Associated with Streptococci (Pandas).

Since March 2010 he has been too ill to go to school, leaving him isolated and with almost no social life.

The illness is triggered by an infection – in Matthew’s case a simple sore throat.

Until then, he had a mild form of OCD, and went to school. He had hoped to be going to Abingdon School this September.

His mum Suzanne Ayres, 50, said: “It happened overnight. He suddenly developed severe OCD and anxiety, it was terrible.”

Mrs Ayres’ partner died just over two years ago, and now, she says, the family has had enough grief.

“It is devastating for anyone to lose friends but this is pretty horrendous,” she said. “Matthew has a very limited social life and this gave him 24-hour friendship and great comfort. To get this cat back would be amazing.”

Matthew was first diagnosed with mild OCD at the age of two when he was bitten by a dog. He lived with the condition, and attended school. However, when a throat infection flared up he was suddenly wracked by a nervous fear of leaving the house.

He said: “I miss Midnight every single day and need to know that he is safe and well. He helps me to feel better and I look at his picture all the time, but it is not the same as him being here with me.

“He is very special to me and I want him back.”

His condition also leaves him hyper-senstive, making it uncomfortable for him to wear clothes.

He receives treatment from Great Ormond Street Hospital, but his mother is now his full-time carer.

She has started a support group for parents across the UK whose children have been diagnosed with the little-understood condition.

On Saturday she hosted the second annual Pandas parents meeting with about eight other parents in London.

Midnight, who the family bought when in 2010 when he was eight weeks, went missing on April 20.

There has been a community hunt involving children and pet lovers, but Midnight is still missing.

  • If you think you might know where Midnight is, call Pete Hughes on 01865 425431.