The British Cat Who Steals Socks-Lots of Them
What a naughty naughty kitty cat!
Cat Burglar
BBC News Leicester | May 2009
Has your cat ever brought you an unwanted ‘present’? They’re renowned for it aren’t they? But for one lady in Loughborough, her pet’s presents are causing quite a bit of embarrassment. BBC Leicester’s Julie Mayer went to investigate.
Louise Brandon, who lives in Loughborough, has a cat with a most unusual obsession.
“It’s a bit better than dead animals. We’ve had cats that brought in birds, shrews and things. But he has brought in nothing live. “says Louise Brandon, of Loughborough.
Most pet cats occasionally bring in dead animals but Henry can’t get enough (by which we mean pinch enough) socks.
Louise is quite relaxed about the matter. “I figure that because it’s a recession we need something useful in the home. So [Henry] has taken to bringing in socks. Mostly clean, thankfully, but there have been a couple of dirty ones.”
Louise’s mum, Ann, is also quite pleased at Henry’s unusual behaviour. “It’s a bit better than dead animals. We’ve had cats that brought in birds, shrews and things. But he has brought in nothing live.”
“So far,” are unspoken words!
When it comes to the objects Henry does bring in, he proves himself a discerning cat. He never brings in children’s socks and he prefers dark colours.
“Here’s yesterday’s offering,” says Ann. “They look new and it’s a proper pair. He brings in Pringle socks, wooly working socks, men’s socks… socks of all sorts.”
By now the Brandons have accumulated a hefty bag of feline presents which is kept in the kitchen
Says Ann, “It started just after Christmas. He’s always liked socks. He pulls them off the radiator if I’m airing them. And the other morning he arranged them in an oval shape on the rug.”
So as well as being a collectomaniac Henry has artistic pretensions as well.
The Dark Side
However, a darker side to Henry’s interests is becoming apparent. Louise says he is also pulling pants off the radiators as well!
So far he has brought in over 50 socks and the family still have no idea where they are coming from.
There is a temple at the back of the house so perhaps the collecting cat pinches the ones that have been removed by worshipers before they enter the temple proper. But they can’t be sure of this.
Ann says they have done their best to make enquiries amongst their neighbours but it has been to no avail.
The mystery remains as deep as ever.
A completeist as well as a collector, Henry often brings in one sock and then goes back to get the other one of the pair.
Louise ponders that perhaps all this odd behaviour stems from Henry’s laziness: “Socks can’t run away like mice so perhaps he likes non-moving target.”
He also likes toys but not toy animals.
“He’s just a thief. A cat burglar!” says Louise.
But more than that he is a mystery cat!