New analysis by Direct Line Pet Insurance reveals 261 cats were reported as stolen to UK police forces in 2016.
According to the data, the number of cats reported stolen has jumped by 40 percent since 2014 (186).
Less than a fifth (18 percent) of cats reported stolen were recovered by police forces in 2016, representing a lower recovery rate than dogs (21 percent).
Cats by their nature are free roaming creatures – so many owners may regard their pet as lost or missing when it could have been stolen.
People may not realise they can report suspected stolen cats to the police and ask for a Crime Reference Number.
The police forces which recorded the highest number of cat thefts last year were the Metropolitan Police (48), Kent Police (26) and West Yorkshire Police (24). Leicestershire Constabulary, Lincolnshire Police and Gwent Police had no incidences of cat thefts reported to them in 2016.
While the majority of police forces (68 per cent) recorded the breed of dog stolen when taking a report of dog theft in 2016, just a quarter of forces recorded the breed of cat. Of the breeds recorded, the Bengal (nine) and Domestic Shorthair (nine) were stolen most frequently, followed by the Russian Blue (five) and Siamese (five).
Some pedigree cat breeds can cost significant amounts of money. Bengal2, Russian3 Blues and Siamese kittens4 are sold for upwards of £350, making them an attractive target for potential thieves. These pedigrees are distinctive in appearance and so are easily identifiable to a would-be cat thief. This is also why they often confined to staying in their owners’ home.
Additional research5 found the number of cats stolen may actually be much greater than the number reported to police forces. The study found that 360,000 adults believe a cat was stolen from their care in the last 12 months. Half (55 per cent) of these had their cat returned to them after it was taken, either as a result of it being found by someone else (12 per cent) or because of its microchip (10 per cent).
Prit Powar, head of Pet Insurance at Direct Line, said: “It is very difficult for owners to know exactly where their cat is all the time due to the large distances they wander. If an owner believes their cat is missing, they should first check the immediate vicinity such as in neighbouring gardens or garages as well as asking local people if they have seen it. If their cat is still missing, owners should contact their local animal warden.
“Cats, like dogs, are a big part of the family and it can be extremely distressing if they go missing or are stolen. Unfortunately stealing dogs and cats is becoming an increasingly popular crime as it is difficult to track the animals down and they can be sold on or bred from for significant amounts of money.
“We urge cat owners to make it as difficult for would-be thieves as possible. Keep your details up to date on the microchip database and let thieves know that the cat is neutered. By putting this extra information on the tag connected to their collar, and spreading the word of your cats disappearance as quickly as possible, helps the pet become ‘too hot to handle’.”
For more information visit https://www.directline.com/pet-cover
