Regarding cat thieves (Cat Breakers: Scientists try to solve the mystery of why cats ‘steal’ random objects, 20 July), a few years ago I lived in a terraced street in South East London and had two cats. One was called Sam – a large neutered ginger male, like a small lion, who was extremely loving and characterful.
He never caught any birds or mice. Sam preferred human food. He quickly learned to open our fridge and remove any item he chose. We have installed childproof locks. So he started going elsewhere – raiding houses with cat flaps.
We received regular deposits of food: ground beef, steak, chicken – both cooked and uncooked, often packed, from the local butcher. Another offering was half a roast leg of mutton: the remains of a Sunday lunch (he somehow got it through our cat rag).
Once he brought in a bag containing 2 pounds of semon fish, obviously intended for a dinner, with one piece left over. He could not manage to eat the lot. Then a pound of Sainsbury’s Lincolnshire sausages, left on the stairs.
We were in a difficult situation. Do we have to go around the streets to find which houses he struck? We had no clues as to where the food came from other than knocking on doors.
He could also turn on the bedside light to wake me up in the morning. Sam was very popular with our family and friends’ children, who never tired of hearing about his exploits. I should add that he also ate a completely normal cat diet.
Frances McKay
West Mersea, Essex
