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25th Oct 2017

Pet owners fear ‘catnapper’ after 90 cats go missing across the country

'Either the cats are being poisoned or they’re being stolen for dog fighting'

Olivia Hayes

Horrifying.

If you have a pet, then you’ll know that they are a part of the family. Hell, some might even be your best friend.

That’s why fears of a ‘catnapper’ are growing across the country as 90 cats have gone missing over a two month period.

Reports suggest that the catnapping began in Newry and Belfast, but now it appears to be moving to Dublin.

Newry-based pet shop Pet Connection has been tracking the disappearances, with worker Emma O’Hare saying “something malicious” is going on.

adorable, animal, baby

“Either the cats are being poisoned and the bodies lifted before owners can find them, or they’re being stolen for dog fighting or a similar cruel activity,” she told independent.ie.

“It is unlikely they are being sold on as they are not pedigree cats being taken, many of these cats were rescued by their owners as kittens.

“We first had reports of cats going missing at the beginning of September. It started in Newry, right up to Belfast and there are cats missing in Dublin too.”

Orange Tabby Cat Beside Brown Tabby Cat in Gray Concrete Road

Pet connection has launched a map to show the various areas that the cats are being taken, and also has a Facebook group set up.

“The more people that know about our Facebook page, the more people can contact us and let us know that their cats are gone missing.

“We are asking people to look at our map and if it seems that there is even one cat missing nearby to keep your cat inside until we figure out what is going on.”

You can view the map here.