The release of the new Hollywood movie ‘A Street Cat Named Bob’ has been blamed on a spate of thefts – of GINGER felines.
Several owners of ginger cats have reported their pets have vanished – and say it’s the film’s fault.
The flick stars homeless and recovering drug addict, James Bowen – played by Luke Treadaway – whose life becomes entwined with a ginger cat.
In Exeter, Devon, two ginger felines have gone missing from the same road just seven doors apart – with the owners suspecting the movie released on Nov 4 is to blame.
Other ginger cats have disappeared across Britain since the film came out – including in Bedfordshire, Surbiton, and Bristol.
Suspicion was initially sparked after the first to disappear was cat Willsy from Oxford Road, in Exeter, Devon, – who was closely followed by neighbour Zebedee.
Margaret Haydon, 74, of Crediton, Devon, said after her sister’s cat Willsy vanished she was in no doubt of what was to blame.
She said: “It is really odd that both cats have gone missing within such a short space of each other.
“Maybe I am being cynical but it just seems strange that the film A Street Cat Named Bob has just come out in the cinema and now ginger cats are disappearing.”
Margaret added: “First my sister’s cat went missing on Sunday, October 30, and then about a week later her neighbour’s cat who looks exactly like Willsy disappeared.
“I have been out looking for the cats, but nothing has come of it so far. They are both beautiful cats, they are very friendly and are good with people.
“No dead cats have been picked up so far as I have been ringing environmental health to see if any have been picked up.
“I hope someone will return them safely.”
Zebedee’s owner, Alistair Brown said that it is completely out of character for their cat not to come home and also believes that the film could be responsible for the thefts.
“Our cat has never wondered off before. He went missing overnight on November 7, between 11pm and 7am and it was the same for our neighbour’s cat.
“We definitely think he was stolen. It was in the middle of the night and no-one has seen him since.
“It could well be linked to the movie. The timing certainly raises suspicion.
“We strongly suspect it is not a coincidence that this has happened twice on the same road in the same street at this time.”
There have also been several other missing ginger cats reported from across Britain since the blockbuster came out.
Among those just this week were a one year old male ginger shorthaired cat called Tiger who disappeared from his home in Bedforshire.
Two-year-old slim pale ginger cat Jinx has vanished from his home in Surbiton.
