A hero pet cat protected a 12-year-old girl from a sinister wild cobra lurking in her bedroom.

Pornkamol Panngern was sleeping off a flu accompanied by the family's female calico while her parents were away working in Saraburi province, Thailand, on August 30.

But when the youngster woke up, she found the deadly snake staring right at her with its head raised and hood flared open.

Terrified Pornkamol ran out of the room to call her parents as the hissing feline blocked the cobra from following her.

When the homeowners arrived, they found the cat bravely squaring off against the serpent. However, the moggie was driven away when the cobra spat venom into its eyes.

A rescue crew later arrived to subdue the snake, which was released away from the residential area.

Pornkamol's parents said they were grateful to the cat for protecting their daughter.

Relieved dad Witthaya said Pornkamol's uncle was usually at home to accompany her, but was out at work when the incident occurred.

He said: 'I'm glad the cobra has been removed. We will be cleaning up Pornkamol's room to see if there are any other snakes hiding. It must have slithered inside when she left the door open.'

Meanwhile, the hero calico was given a saline treatment to wash the corrosive venom from its eyes.