Beloved pet cats have disappeared in Blackpool - and people suspect thieves are to blame

Attractive-looking cats such as tabbies and long-haired breeds have been going missing, leaving their families devastated and desperate for answers.

Joan Lamb, of the animal rescue charity Harvey's Army, said: "We have got a massive problem with cats going missing in Blackpool. We have always had missing cats, but there has been a particular cluster of them going missing in the Layton area. In six weeks there have been at least half a dozen gone missing that I know of. Of these, none have come back.

"We don't want to alarm owners because we have had problems like this before. In Bispham about 18 months ago there was 15 cats missing, and we suspected dog-baiting. I don't suspect that here - I have no reason to. But people may be taking these cats, just because they want it for themselves or to sell them, because at the moment anything that can be sold is being sold."

Steve Bates' two-year-old tabby Elfie vanished from the garden of his Cameron Avenue home on the morning of November 26, and hasn't been seen since.

He said: "Elfie is a house cat. He only ever went out in the mornings and always came back when he was called. But that morning, he didn't come home. I was out looking for him, calling for him, and I knew there was something majorly wrong.

Fearing the worst, Steve checked CCTV footage taken outside his home and observed a person carrying a large hold-all cycling from the direction of Devonshire Road. He suspects this person may have used to bag to snare little Elfie.

"I'm convinced something has happened to him," Steve said. "Otherwise he would have come home.

"I feel totally devastated really. I can't really sleep at night. I'm just worrying so much about him, whether he's out in the cold, starving and hungry. I don't know what happened to him, whether he's still alive or not. All the thoughts are running around him my head about what could have happened to him.

"I have been out every night looking for him, knocking on doors and putting up posters all over Layton."

Steve has offered a £1,000 reward for the safe return of Elfie, who is microchipped and neutered.

Joan said: "Steve has been out until 2am looking for this cat. It's just awful.

"People have had a hard enough year, suffering with everything, without having to worry about their cats being stolen from their front gardens. It's like having a family member missing for Christmas."

Have you seen any of the cats pictured in this article? Contact Harvey's Army on 07833 727975.