The X Factor host Dermot O’Leary is turning children’s author with the publication of his new book about a Ninja Cat called Toto.

Toto the Ninja Cat and the Great Snake Escape will be published on September 21.

The story follows Toto the cat and her brother Silver, who live in a town house in London. Toto is almost totally blind, and learned to trust her senses from a ninja cat master back in Italy where the duo were born. By day, Toto and Silver are ordinary cats, but by night, they find themselves having all kinds of adventures.

O’Leary said: “The idea for Toto first came to me when my wife and I rescued two stray cats from an olive grove in Italy. One of them, Toto, has been blind from birth, but we quickly realised she had ninja like reactions.

Like a lot of cat owners (or cat servants), we like to imagine our pets having secret lives when we’re out or asleep. So before I knew it I was writing about Toto and her brother, Silver’s nocturnal adventures around London.

I’m from a big reading family and children’s books were a massive part of my upbringing. I wanted to write a book that my niece Josette, who is addicted to reading, would love. I really hope that Josette, and all children who pick it up, enjoy reading the adventures of a little Italian underdog (cat).”