Pet snatching fears after 'beautiful' cat reported missing from Wakefield home

Purdy has been missing from his home in Crigglestone for more than two weeks.

Elaine Taylor says she last saw her cat Purdy on Tuesday, May 26, close to her home in Crigglestone.

But when he failed to return home that evening, she became concerned - and her worry was only heightened when a neighbour reported seeing a stranger pull up to another cat in the street and attempt to tempt it into her vehicle.

She said: "My gut reaction was that there was something wrong from day one.

"There's been no proper sightings of him.

"He's only nine months old, he's a beautiful cat. He's a very pale strawberry blonde.

"I trained Purdy to come in before it gets dark. I saw him at 7pm in the neighbour's garden and didn't think anything about it because he normally comes in about 9.15pm.

"But there's a few cat owners on my road and somebody tried to take one of my neighbour's cats.

"She saw a lady pull up to a cat and luckily it ran off."

Purdy had been scheduled to receive a microchip earlier this year, but the appointment was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

But Elaine said he has lived on the same street since he was born, and was not known for disappearing.

She fears that his unusual colouring may have made him a target for any potential pet thieves in the area.

"My gut reaction is that he's been stolen," she said. "It was completely out of character.

"I saw him being born, he was my next door neighbour's cat.

"My son just keeps saying 'I want my cat back'.

"He's been really poorly in the last year and he's just getting better and this could set him back.

"It's not only a cat, it disrupts your whole household."

Elaine said Purdy was very shy around strangers, and would likely resist being captured if found, but has urged anyone who spots him to email [email protected].