Extreme measures to find cat
North Shore Times
Relevant offers
For the past few weeks commuters driving down Onewa Rd have seen a woman dressed in a Puss ’n’ Boots costume standing on the side of the road.
She is Northcote resident Karyn Simons, who is going to great lengths to find her cat.
Mrs Simons lost Darwin, a two-year-old ginger male, about six months ago.
Since then she has put out flyers, gone doorknocking, published ads, set up a web page and food traps with cameras on them to see if she can spot him.
She took three weeks leave from work for her roadside campaign and even postponed a holiday to the Netherlands so she could focus on finding "Mr D".
Mrs Simons says she has had a good reaction to the cat suit and many calls reporting sightings of ginger cats but none have been confirmed as Darwin.
She estimates her efforts have cost $5000 to $6000, including the cameras she bought.
Mrs Simons regularly checks the SPCA’s new arrivals and has been told that cats don’t usually travel far so it’s best to look in small areas, under decks and in neighbours’ garages.
She says Darwin is "one of the family" and she’s "got to keep pushing and pushing" if she wants to find him.
But she and her husband aren’t the only ones who miss him.
Mrs Simons says Darwin’s sister Sam has major separation anxiety and often cries incessantly for him.
His mother still looks for him too.
There is a toll-free number for anyone who has any information or can help. Call 0800-786-086.
