A python with a bulging belly was caught after eating a stray cat in Thailand.

The 10ft long snake had preyed on the mother of three kittens before it was captured by reptile handlers in a garden in Ang Thong province on April 1.

Homeowner Boss was mowing the lawn when he noticed the serpent lying beside the house fence with its belly bulging. He called volunteers, who found the creature hiding in a thicket while digesting its last meal.

The snake was easily caught as it was too lethargic to move after gorging on the feline.

The rescuers hauled the swollen python near the house to measure it, with residents running away due to its distended midsection.

Boss said: 'A stray cat here had recently given birth to three kittens. The kittens were alone for two days before we found out that their mum had been eaten by the python.'

Reptile expert Ratha Tapianthong and the other volunteers later released the python into the wild.

The reticulated python is found throughout Southeast Asia, where they live in forests, swamps, canals and even in cities, causing them to come into conflict with humans. The species is one of the world's largest snakes and can eat humans, cats, dogs, birds, rats and other snakes.