Plumber left red-faced after wrestling customer's indoor cat back home, only to realize it wasn't their pet

A plumber was left red-faced after wrestling a cat into his client's home, only to discover it wasn't actually her pet.

Scott Mckendry, 47, from Winchester, was called into a job at Emma Pickering's Hampshire home earlier this year and given strict instructions not to let her cat Bertie outside.

During the job, the plumber panicked when he realized he had accidentally left the front door open.

However, he was relieved when he saw a black cat walking around just outside.

Hilarious footage from Emma's Ring doorbell shows Scott slowly walking up to the cat and calling Bertie's name.

He then quickly grabs the big black moggy and runs back to the house – but finds the door locked.

While fighting with the lock, the cat starts scratching and biting Scott, while the plumber desperately tries to calm him down.

Fortunately, a neighbor witnessed Scott's struggle and managed to open the door.

But as he goes to put the cat inside, the couple are stunned to see the real Bertie sitting at the bottom of the stairs, looking up at them.

As he continues to battle the lookalike, Scott shouts, “Oh no, that's not Bertie!”

The pair then burst into hysterics and the plumber immediately released the cat – who he later discovered was Alfie from down the street and 'doesn't like being picked up at all'.

When Emma arrived home ten minutes later, the 26-year-old cat owner was shocked to find Scott covered in scratches.

She explained: 'Bertie was just inside on his back on the floor. He is the most relaxed cat ever.

Pictured: Scott's customer Emma Pickering with her cat Bertie, who was sitting at the bottom of the stairs when the plumber finally opened the door with Alfie

Emma said of her plumber: 'Scott is such a nice person. I think it's a real testament to his character. He could have easily let go of Alfie, but he kept trying.”

'I gave Bertie to Scott when we knew what had happened and Bertie just chilled in his arms. There was no way that cat was Bertie.

'I did a few double takes when I was in my kitchen and saw Alfie on the road. But Alfie is much bigger and Bertie has a little white spot on his front.'

After Scott returned to work, Emma realized the hilarious moment would be captured on her Ring doorbell camera, prompting the plumber to share it on his Facebook business page.

Emma said: 'I watched the footage and I can't even explain how much I laughed. I was almost on the ground.

'My husband was exactly the same when he came home. We still think it's so funny.'

Discussing the differences between Bertie (left) and Alfie (right), Emma said: 'Alfie is much bigger and Bertie has a little white spot on his front.'

After Scott returned to work, Emma Pickering (pictured) realized the hilarious moment would be captured on her Ring doorbell camera

However, Emma says she wasn't surprised by the lengths the plumber went to to 'save' her cat.

Emma said: 'Scott is such a nice person. I think it's a real testament to his character. He could have easily let go of Alfie, but he kept trying.'

Scott said: 'I did my best to protect Bertie. It's early in my and the client's relationship, so I didn't really want to lose the cat.

Scott said of his failed 'rescue': 'He had his teeth through the top of my arm. He was stuck with me. I had scratches all over my head, all over my scalp and all over my arm. I had bite marks on my arm.

Scott said he really didn't want to be responsible for the loss of Emma's cat because their working relationship is still 'early'

'Luckily I had gloves on and it's winter, so I had a thick sweater on. If it were summer, I probably would have just dropped the cat!

'From talking to the actual owner, it appears that Alfie doesn't like being picked up at all.'

Afterwards, Scott felt so bad about what had happened that he asked Emma to check with Alfie's owner to see if the cat was okay.

Scott added: 'The imposter was absolutely fine and appears to have suffered no ill effects from the whole experience.'