A family fear their rare pet cat has been stolen.
Eight-month-old Leo is a Bengal cat, prized for their distinctive coat which looks like a leopard.
And the Hirst family are convinced they heard cat thieves at work outside their Kirkheaton home on April 27, the night Leo vanished.
Owner James Hirst, of Sunnyhill Avenue, said: “Leo never stayed out in the eight months we have owned him since he was a kitten.
“We only had to stand at the door and shout ‘food’ and he was on his way in. He’s more like a dog; he’d come for a walk with us and our two dogs.
“On the night he vanished my wife woke up to a loud rustling noise outside, followed by the sounds of a vehicle driving off at high speed. The next morning when we got up and realised he was missing our next door neighbour told he was also woken by the noise”.
The Hirsts have contacted the RSPCA and cat charities, as well as animal organisations. Leo is microchipped and his disappearance has been registered.,
The Bengal cat breed was first developed in the United States in 1963 when leopard cats were crossed with domestic cats in an attempt to prevent wild cats from being exploited for the fur market, as well as dangerous wild cats being kept as pets. The Bengal cat breed made its way to the UK in 1991.
The Hirsts bought Leo for £450 but some cats can exchange hands for well over £1,000.
The Hirsts can be contacted on 07747696646
