A tiger with a seriously cute pet cat-like face has become a hit at a zoo in Thailand.

The three-year-old golden tabby tiger named Eva arrived at the zoo two years ago in Chiang Mai Night Safari, and caretakers said there had been a noticeable increase in visitors.

Footage shows Eva roaming inside the enclosure with her older sister, Luna, on November 21. The siblings played inside, poking their paws on the soil and exploring the rocky interior while visitors watched from behind the glass.

Eva was slightly smaller than Luna and, due to her gentle features and demeanour, resembled a pet cat more than a big cat.

She also has a golden coat, which caretakers said results from a rare recessive gene, making her a rare one of only about a hundred such tigers in the world.

Zoo director Thitirat Tawanwong said: 'Many tourists come here for them, especially for Eva. They travel from Bangkok and other places just to see them.

'They are in the Tiger World Exhibition area from 11 am to 2 pm before preparing for the Tiger show where they overcome obstacles to get meat.'

When the zoo started posting pictures of the animals in their care, the director said Eva gained instant fans because she looked more like a house cat.

She added: 'Our visitors increased to 1,500 per day, but we are expecting an increase of up to 5,000 people per day. We are working on improvements to accommodate this.'

The zoo currently has four female tigers and one male.

A golden tabby tiger is a rare colour variation of the Bengal tiger. These tigers have a striking coat with pale golden fur and broad, light orange stripes.