This is the purr-fect moment a playful snow leopard chases a young girl as she runs up and down outside its enclosure at a zoo.

Footage filmed by the girl’s amazed family shows the young leopard suddenly chasing after the youngster as she runs past the enclosure’s glass wall.

Moments later she runs back and triggers the cat’s predator instincts as it follows her again as if she were prey.

But when the blonde youngster stopped, the leopard stopped too and immediately seemed to forge a close bond with the young fan.

As the girl peers through the glass, the ruthless predator shows it is just a big softy as it rubs its head and paws against the glass as if it is marking her as one of the family.

The big cat even tries to give her a thorough licking, a habit experts say reinforces family bonds between mothers and cubs.

The footage was shared by the Montgomery Zoo, Alabama State, USA, who said it had been shared by visitor Brinda DeAnne Green.

In an online post, the zoo shared a message from the visitors saying: “I just wanted to send this video of our experience with Sierra on Saturday December 2nd!

“This was the coolest experience I’ve ever had at a zoo!

“We enjoyed our time with the Parakeets, giraffes, train ride, lift ride and other exhibits on a very slow day.

“We came to celebrate my mom’s birthday, she wanted to take my kids to the zoo where she took me as a child.

“My kids are telling everyone they are what a great day they had. Thanks Montgomery Zoo!”

The wildlife park is set across 40 acres and includes elephants lions and penguins and a massive walk-through aviary.