Spate of missing cat reports across inner west
NUMEROUS cats have vanished in the inner west and inner Sydney including five members of a Redfern colony, sparking fears the animals have been stolen and even been harmed.
Inner West
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THEY were known around Redfern as the Eveleigh St Cats before five of their 11-strong stray colony disappeared without a trace.
It follows a spate of cats reported missing across the inner west and inner Sydney with many of their owners fearing their beloved pets have been stolen and even harmed.
Sydney Street Cats founder Kerin Welford said she had been caring for the Redfern colony of desexed adults every day for about four years.
“For that whole time the population of 11 cats has been stable with no missing cats during those years,” Ms Welford said.
“During the first two weeks of May, five of the cat colony went missing without a trace.
“Despite exhaustive attempts to find them through visiting shelters, pounds, advertising on social media and putting posters up around the neighbourhood offering a $2,000 reward, no clues have come about on their whereabouts.
“That makes me think something bad has happened to them. I actually think someone has taken them and I don’t know what they’ve done with them.
Ms Welford, of Annandale, has boarded the six remaining cats with a vet out of fear they would be taken too.
She said the colony is sorely missed by neighbours.
“They feel the cats brought character and life to the area,” she said.
“They’re like my cats … One day I plan to have a house with big enclosure to keep them all in there.”
A reward of $4,000 is offered for knowledge of their whereabouts. Email Ms Welford at: sydneystreetcats@gmail.com.
Katie Summerfield last saw her cat Arian, 6, at their St Peters home on Wednesday, May 16.
“I feel either someone has taken him or run over him and not told me,” she said.
The Inner West Courier was inundated with messages from cat owners who feared their felines had been stolen after doing a call out on Facebook.
Vanessa Sleet said her Maxy “disappeared without a trace” on Friday, May 25 from Toxteth Rd, Glebe.
He is microchipped and is wearing a purple collar and an orange tag.
“He is very well known by many people in the street and no one has seen him,” she said.
“If he was injured or dead I’m sure someone would have found him or taken him to a vet so that is why I feel that he has been stolen. We have two children who are heartbroken.”
Mel Linda said there’s been an increase in cat hate and many cases of cat torture following reports feral cats were harming native wildlife.
Tiernan Stinson said his cat Buzz vanished last Wednesday, May 30, near Marrickville Metro.
“I don’t really have any reason to suspect he was stolen, but on the other hand he’s a pretty consistent little cat who would always be waiting when I got home at 2pm,” he said.
“I haven’t heard anything about him since & have looked all over the Inner West.
“Really all I want is to get the little guy back so anyone who can help me with that is welcome to, no questions asked.”
IS DEAF ACHILLES A PSYCHIC CAT?
Michelle Davis said her cat Mittens disappeared on September 17 during the day from Balmain East.
“She was mostly an indoor cat and used to sit down the side of our house with our little dog.” Ms Davis said.
“She was only two years old and my son’s first pet. We think about her everyday.”