A hero cat saved his owner's life by pounding his paws on her chest to wake her up after she suffered a heart attack.

Sam Felstead was asleep when she was woken by her seven-year-old cat Billy at 4.30am.

She realized she was unable to move her body and had a shooting pain down her right side so called out to her mom Karen for help.

Karen then rushed the 42-year-old to hospital where doctors told her she had suffered a heart attack in her sleep—and she believes Billy's swift actions saved her life.

"I was a bit shocked, I went to bed and I felt fine. I'd even been out with the dogs—and I didn't feel ill or have any pains whatsoever.

"Suddenly I woke up and Billy was on my chest and was meowing loudly in my ear hole.

"He was really meowing and he wouldn't leave me. He doesn't do that normally. He's never woken me up before.

"He's not a lap cat… and he's certainly not a cat that wants to be on your knee all the time. He likes to be alone.

Her mother, who is Billy's favorite human, was quite surprised, too.

"I'm just glad he woke me up. Who knows…it could've been worse for me."

Doctors found one of her arteries was blocked and used a balloon to open it back up again.

Sam spent three days in hospital before being discharged and was reunited with her beloved Billy, a British short-hair.

"I'm grateful for him as my alarm was set for another two hours so who knows if I would have woken up.

"The doctors said it was a good job I got to hospital in time.

"I do think he saved my life and so does everybody else around me."

One cat behavior expert said Billy may have picked up on physiological changes in Sam.

"I do believe he probably did save her life, because that's what enabled her to get medical help."

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