Police investigate as Milnthorpe cat returns shaven for third time

Cat owners on Wyndsore Avenue reported to police that their pet has now returned home three times with parts of its fur shaved - an act which they think has the hallmarks of an old TikTok trend.

The part-Bengal cat named Bella first returned home with some smaller patches missing on Thursday (December 28) before returning with larger chunks missing on Saturday (December 30).

The feline came back in the morning with both back legs and her underbelly shaved and there was also a chunk of fur missing from the top of her head.

The six-year-old cat is owned by the 19-year-old daughter of Tammy Gregory.

The pet is used to going out from her home and has never had any problems in the quiet neighbourhood.

Her owners were reluctant to let her back out after the first two incidents - chalking the first one up to a fight with another cat.

Bella snuck out again on New Year's Eve however and the same disturbing act took place again.

The same places appear to have been re-shaved except with fur now missing from her front leg.

Tammy said: "The cat managed to sneak out tonight at 8:30am and came running back in when I finished work and has been shaved again. This is feeling very personal now."

Tammy and her daughter feared that the shavings were reminiscent of an old TikTok trend which may have re-surfaced.

Between Christmas 2023 and March 2023, more than 50 incidents of cat shavings were reported across Kent, with the upsetting act becoming almost a daily occurrence.

It was believed that the shaving of the cats may have been a way of earmarking them to later be killed.

Tammy reported the incidents to the police who came and took photographs of Bella yesterday. An officer is now dealing with the investigation. 

A spokesperson for Cumbria police said: "We were contacted on the morning of 31 December by the individual named, reporting that her cat had been shaved on its back legs and underbelly.

"The incident has been crimed as causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.

"Anyone with information about this incident can report online at www.cumbria.police.uk/reportit , quoting incident number 55 of 31 December 2023. You can also phone on 101.

"Alternatively you can contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111."

Cumbria police has confirmed that there have not been any recent reports of a similar nature.