May 1 (UPI) — Residents of a Virginia neighborhood have put up signs warning pet owners that cats in the area are being abducted and resurfacing partially shaved.
Capt. Kelly Walker of the Waynesboro Police Department confirmed at least two households in the Tree Street area have recently reported finding their indoor/outdoor cats with their undersides shaved.
Walker said the shaving appears to have been done with some kind of razor.
Resident Rebekah Martin said her cat, Tigerlily, has been targeted by the mystery shaver twice this year.
“It hurts, because she can’t tell me. I know it probably hurt her, probably not physically, but mentally that has to be really hard on her. She doesn’t want to be picked up anymore. She used to be really nice and you could pick her up and hold her and everything, and now she just doesn’t want to be picked up anymore,” Martin told WVIR-TV.
Neighbor Maia Oden said her cat was also targeted months after another group of neighbors found their cats shaved.
“He’s real skittish and he feels really weird around people,” Oden told WHSV-TV of her cat. “And something’s happened to him and so we looked and he’s been shaved underneath.”
Walker said the number of targeted cats keeps growing as the investigation continues.
“Collectively, this involves seven cats that are indoor and outdoor cats,” Walker told The Waynesboro News Virginian.
Police said all of the shaven cats have been domesticated felines owned by neighborhood residents.
“The cats are wearing collars and are well-groomed,” Walker said.
Walker gave neighbors clearance to post warning signs in the neighborhood.
“Shaving cats??!!” the signs read. “Several neighborhood cats have been abducted and had their lower abdomens and groin areas shaved. This is very upsetting to the cats and their owners. If you have information about this suspicious activity please contact the police department at 540-942-6675. Our cats will thank you!”
