Stolen cat taken 'overseas' in spat between neighbours

MISSING: Westmere resident Lisa Morice wants to find her beloved Max, who was taken 'overseas' in a spat between neighbours.

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A distraught cat-owner says the person who kidnapped her pet and dumped him on the North Shore is 'bordering on psychotic'.
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Lisa Morice's cat Max failed to turn up at his home in William Denny Ave in Westmere, on Thursday last week. On Saturday Ms Morice circulated flyers appealing for sightings.

"Almost immediately I received an anonymous call from a man telling me there was a letter about Max in our box," she says.

"The writer said Max had been taken 'overseas' and left by some houses on the Northcote Pt side of Onewa Rd."

The letter contained a map showing where the cat had been left.

It says: "I and others who have lived in our home have had a long and very unsatisfactory relationship with Max, especially our cat who has sustained various injuries, one permanent, in attempting to defend her territory."

The letter continues: "Max has been a regular nocturnal invader, eating our cat's food and occasionally defecating in the corner.

"It was high time this came to an end, and our home became our home again.

"Two nights ago, Max crept in at 4am and I played cat and mouse where I was the cat and Max was the mouse.

"After a two-hour chase, where Max demonstrated an intimate knowledge of every hideaway corner of our house, I managed to capture him."

The writer goes on to say Max had no identifying collar or tag, no neighbours knew who he belonged to and the SPCA didn't want to know.

"So, in desperation and with considerable misgivings, I took him 'overseas' to Onewa Rd and released him there.

"I am remaining anonymous for obvious reasons and when you get him back, as I am sure you will, can I suggest that you provide him with a collar and a tag that identifies him as your cat.

"I am sure that Max will make further nocturnal visitations, but after this experience, probably not to our house."

Ms Morice says since receiving the letter, the search for Max has shifted to Northcote Pt, where flyers have been left in letterboxes and pictures pinned on power poles.

"While I understand the letter writer's frustration, I am horrified at the drastic action he took," she says.

"It is very weird behaviour.

"We know the person lives very close to us, but is outside our immediate group of houses.

"All we want is Max back and we have had a wonderful response from Northcote residents, but as yet without success."

- © Fairfax NZ News