Warning after 'abnormal' number of cats disappear

Snuggles (left) and Nyla are two of the cats that have disappeared from Newtown

Pet owners in an area of mid Wales are being urged to take extra care with their animals after an "abnormal" number of cats went missing in recent months.

About 10 cats have disappeared from the Garth Owen area of Newtown, Powys, in the past year, many in the last few months, said Kelly Healy, who represents the area for Powys council.

"It's very suspicious behaviour, and somebody may have been taking them," she said.

Dyfed-Powys Police said it has received reports about missing cats in the Garth Owen area of Newtown, and inquiries were "ongoing to establish if a criminal offence has occurred".

Aldwyth Bates, founder of Powys Animal Welfare charity, said she first became aware of the issue when a number of "distressed" members of the public started getting in touch saying their cats had gone missing.

"We started to be very suspicious, particularly as it was concentrated in one area over a few months," she said, urging owners to be careful.

Ms Bates added some cats had been returned thanks to microchipping, but others were still missing.

One cat was found dead, she said.

"Cats go missing, of course they do, but this was an abnormal number in a cluster around a certain part of an estate," she said.

"It's too much of a coincidence – it doesn't happen like that."

She urged the police to investigate, saying she hoped "some people get their beloved animals back".

Ringo disappeared before being found several months later in Shrewsbury

Craig Beckerleg's cat, Ringo, went missing last October and was found several months later by a cat rescue charity in Shrewsbury, more than 30 miles (48 km) away.

He believed Ringo was taken because "too many cats have gone missing" in the Garth Owen area.

Mr Beckerleg said a number of neighbours had cats disappearing in recent months, including one who was found in Aberystwyth, Ceredigion – more than 40 miles (64 km) away and in the opposite direction to Shrewsbury.

He said the "family was overjoyed" when Ringo returned, particularly his young son who was "ecstatic", because he had been so upset at Ringo disappearing.

"[Ringo's] now alright. He's coming and going as his normal self," he told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast.

Healy, the Liberal Democrat councillor for Newtown, said there was a "pattern" of cats going missing, saying she knew of 10 people saying theirs had disappeared.

"We had one in April last year, one in October and others in November and December – so they're in close succession," she said.

Ms Healy urged anyone who suspects their cat may have disappeared to get in touch.