This is the dramatic moment a resident saved his pet cat from being strangled by a huge wild python.

The pet owner was cooking rice in his kitchen when he spotted the snake constricting his cat in the backyard of his home in Samut Sakhon, Thailand.

He rushed over to rescue the helpless brown feline, which had been trapped in a rubbish dump.

Footage shows the man striking the serpent with a log in an attempt to force it to release the cat on May 8.

The reptile eventually uncoiled its body from the visibly weakened furry creature before trying to slither into the dense brush behind the house.

The shaken cat was seen lying still for a moment before suddenly leaping out of the pile of timber as the reticulated python wriggled away in retreat.

The pet owner said: 'My cat survived and didn't sustain any injuries, but he was frightened and shaken by what happened.'

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.