Cuthbert's disappearance upsets kids

CUTHBERT the cat has disappeared and his owners fear he has been abducted.

The tortoise-shell pussycat with bright blue eyes normally resides at the Squirrell Nutkins day nursery but last Wednesday he went missing.

However he has since been seen wearing a new red collar leading his owner to believe someone has taken Cuthbert in to their home to look after, thinking he was homeless.

Glum-faced children at the school have been drawing pictures of their beloved Cuthbert who used to always be sat on the reception desk.

But Cuthbert's pining brother Herbert is more upset as he persistently squeaks in misery and is refusing to eat his food.

Debi Squirrell said the children were upset that the two-year-old cat had gone: "The children watched them grow up and they just love them."

She said Cuthbert was very friendly and that he would often be seen at the nearby Brackenbury Sports Centre watching the karate sessions and waiting to be stroked by children playing in the area.

Cuthbert first went missing last Wednesday but Debi said she saw him jumping off a fence, out of the nursery's garden, on the Friday wearing a new red collar. Cuthbert had never worn a collar before, which led Debi to believe that someone had adopted him without knowing he had a bed elsewhere.

Debi, who has a nine-year-old son called George, has since posted leaflets with the cat's picture on to try and recover her pet and has also pinned up posters near the nursery, which have the word Abducted! emblazoned on it.

Debi appealed to the catnapper or mistaken samaritan and said: "Please bring him back because we will miss him very much and his brother would be particularly sad."

She said if Cuthbert was brought back to his rightful owners the staff and children at the nursery would hold a celebration party for him.

If anyone has any information about the whereabouts of Cuthbert the friendly cat call Debi on 01394 671960.