Experts are warning about the increase in cases where individuals lure other people's cats with expensive food, leading to dangerous consequences. If your cat is unusually spending more time outside or showing unusual behaviors, it may have become a target of a "cat deceiver."
Cats and Tempting Foods
Reports indicate that individuals who appear to have good intentions are trying to attract other people's pets using expensive food. Concerned cat owners have expressed worries about their pets' sudden weight gain, and some have even noticed that their neighbors are secretly feeding their cats.
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Worrying Consequences
In alarming cases, cat owners have reported that their pets have permanently disappeared. Colin Butcher, an expert in recovering stolen animals, says that some cat deceivers are indifferent to the consequences of their actions. He pointed out that he encounters an average of three people a week who claim to have brought home a "stray" cat without attempting to find its owner.
On social media, animal lovers joke about a "cat distribution system" and encourage others to feed neighborhood cats and take them home. However, Butcher warns that alongside these good intentions, there are individuals who are seriously trying to steal their neighbors' pets.
Personal Experiences
Anne Bent, one of the cat owners, rescued her cat named Kali from a shelter in 2016. She says that after moving to their new home in Cheshire, she noticed that Kali had become unusually overweight and upon investigation, found out that her neighbors were feeding her cat.
This situation made her worry and seek ways to prevent these issues. She told her neighbors to refrain from leaving food for Kali, as it could harm her cat's health.
A spokesperson for the animal protection charity also advises cat owners to avoid feeding other people's cats without their permission, as this can lead to health and dietary problems.
Cats are naturally curious and may visit other homes, but that doesn't mean someone is deliberately trying to steal a cat. Butcher emphasizes that some individuals are intentionally trying to take animals home, and this act is now illegal in Britain.
