A cheeky pet cat tricked a rampaging monitor lizard into chasing him out of the house - then reappeared on a shelf safe and well.

The clever moggy named Palo appeared to wait for the rampaging monitor lizard in the laundry room before luring it outside as it scurried behind him in Bangkok, Thailand on June 29.

CCTV footage shows Palo turning his back to lead the way to the exit when the lizard was only inches away from him. They were followed an entourage of frantic family members who were also trying to catch the wild animal.

Hilariously, the feline could be seen returning to the house through the window and sitting on the ledge before his amused owners praised him for doing a great job.

Palo's owner Wipawan Suksomphon said: 'We thought that the cat would block the lizard's way but Palo ran outside. He was so fast and showed up safely again inside the house like nothing happened.'

The monitor lizard escaped to the back of the house, returning to its habitat while Palo was unhurt and received a snack as a reward.

Asian water monitor lizards normally live in canals, swamps, sewers and ponds in cities in Thailand. They feed on fish, snakes, frogs and scraps of food left by humans.

The reptiles are aggressive when threatened and have a mildly venomous bite which sometimes carries harmful bacteria. The Godzilla-like reptiles are also a protected species in the country so their population thrives.