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Kleptomaniac cats in Christmas stocking stash hunt | Kleptomaniac cats in Christmas stocking stash hunt |
(about 5 hours later) | |
They may look innocent enough but these two felines are responsible for a mini crime spree in the east of England. | They may look innocent enough but these two felines are responsible for a mini crime spree in the east of England. |
Christmas is a gift for Theo, a three-year-old Siamese cross belonging to Rachael Drouet and Paul Edwards from Ipswich. | Christmas is a gift for Theo, a three-year-old Siamese cross belonging to Rachael Drouet and Paul Edwards from Ipswich. |
He is a seasoned cat burglar, regularly bringing home "treasures" from neighbours' houses. | He is a seasoned cat burglar, regularly bringing home "treasures" from neighbours' houses. |
But this year, Theo has really got into the spirit of Christmas. | But this year, Theo has really got into the spirit of Christmas. |
He has forsaken his usual diet of clothing, phone chargers and other cats' toys for a selection of Christmas decorations which his owners believe he is pilfering from their neighbours' trees. | He has forsaken his usual diet of clothing, phone chargers and other cats' toys for a selection of Christmas decorations which his owners believe he is pilfering from their neighbours' trees. |
Meanwhile, in Luton, Denis, a three-year-old moggy whose cat burgling antics have been well-documented on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, is expected to get into the Christmas spirit once the big day is over, according to his owner Lesley Newman. | Meanwhile, in Luton, Denis, a three-year-old moggy whose cat burgling antics have been well-documented on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, is expected to get into the Christmas spirit once the big day is over, according to his owner Lesley Newman. |
She said her cat prefers to steal underwear, but usually brings home gifts of Christmas wrapping paper - minus the contents - after the big day. | |
Denis's penchant for purloining pants is matched by his love of shoes, paintbrushes and Barbie dolls. | Denis's penchant for purloining pants is matched by his love of shoes, paintbrushes and Barbie dolls. |
Mrs Newman believes Denis climbs up neighbours' rotary washing lines and pulls items of clothing off before carrying them home through his cat flap. | Mrs Newman believes Denis climbs up neighbours' rotary washing lines and pulls items of clothing off before carrying them home through his cat flap. |
After trying, and failing, to find the owners of most items, Mrs Newman now keeps a large box of Denis's finds in her loft. | After trying, and failing, to find the owners of most items, Mrs Newman now keeps a large box of Denis's finds in her loft. |
Returning their cats' stolen goods to the rightful owner is a challenge for both sets of owners. | Returning their cats' stolen goods to the rightful owner is a challenge for both sets of owners. |
Pleas on Facebook go largely unanswered and confronting possible "victims" is not always easy. | Pleas on Facebook go largely unanswered and confronting possible "victims" is not always easy. |
"It's a bit embarrassing to have to knock on neighbours' doors - especially the ones I don't know so well - and ask them if this chewed up thing covered in saliva and cat hair was once hanging on their Christmas tree," Miss Drouet says. | "It's a bit embarrassing to have to knock on neighbours' doors - especially the ones I don't know so well - and ask them if this chewed up thing covered in saliva and cat hair was once hanging on their Christmas tree," Miss Drouet says. |
Theo's latest finds include woollen Santa and snowman decorations - clearly from the same set - and an angel which he brought into the kitchen and quickly separated it from its feather "wings". | Theo's latest finds include woollen Santa and snowman decorations - clearly from the same set - and an angel which he brought into the kitchen and quickly separated it from its feather "wings". |
Miss Drouet says while she appreciates Theo's gifts, she would "prefer an iPad". | Miss Drouet says while she appreciates Theo's gifts, she would "prefer an iPad". |
She believes his cat burgling is the nearest her pet can get to catching live animals. | She believes his cat burgling is the nearest her pet can get to catching live animals. |
"The thing is, Theo's absolutely rubbish at catching normal 'cat prey'," she says. | "The thing is, Theo's absolutely rubbish at catching normal 'cat prey'," she says. |
"He's really a bit of a stupid cat, and definitely not firing on all cylinders to be honest. | "He's really a bit of a stupid cat, and definitely not firing on all cylinders to be honest. |
"He's got a real thing about rubber and latex gloves. He seems to have some strange fetishes." | "He's got a real thing about rubber and latex gloves. He seems to have some strange fetishes." |
She adds: "Usually he takes a break over the winter, preferring to spend up to 22 hours on the sofa, so we thought we were home free. | She adds: "Usually he takes a break over the winter, preferring to spend up to 22 hours on the sofa, so we thought we were home free. |
"Then in the space of a few days these Christmas decorations appeared." | "Then in the space of a few days these Christmas decorations appeared." |
Denis also shows no sign of giving up his life of crime, which he has been perfecting since he was a kitten. | Denis also shows no sign of giving up his life of crime, which he has been perfecting since he was a kitten. |
"He never brings home prey, just the other things he takes a fancy to and I really don't think he's ever going to stop," Mrs Newman says. | "He never brings home prey, just the other things he takes a fancy to and I really don't think he's ever going to stop," Mrs Newman says. |
She says she makes up for Denis's criminal ways by donating money from advertisements on his YouTube channel to a cat rescue charity in Bedfordshire. | She says she makes up for Denis's criminal ways by donating money from advertisements on his YouTube channel to a cat rescue charity in Bedfordshire. |
"He's raised about £5,000 for them so far," she says proudly. | "He's raised about £5,000 for them so far," she says proudly. |
Mrs Newman says she is waiting for Denis to bring home some jewellery. | Mrs Newman says she is waiting for Denis to bring home some jewellery. |
"I'll be happy as Larry if he does that," she says. | "I'll be happy as Larry if he does that," she says. |
"But he's definitely gearing up for Christmas and has brought quite a few things home this week. | "But he's definitely gearing up for Christmas and has brought quite a few things home this week. |
"Bless his cotton socks. He's so proud of his 'finds'." | "Bless his cotton socks. He's so proud of his 'finds'." |
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