ANIMAL lovers are being urged to keep a vigilant eye on their pets after seven cats have gone missing in Exmouth this month.

ANIMAL lovers are being urged to keep a vigilant eye on their pets after seven cats have gone missing in Exmouth this month.

The animals belong to a number of owners from Chudley Close, Holland Road and Bradham Lane.

A concerned PC Martin Young, from Exmouth police, said the level of disappearances equated to two per week.

Mr Young said it was possible the pets were stolen, but he hoped somebody had misguidedly taken them in.

“It seems strange that this number of cats has gone missing from parts of the town. If anyone has any information, please let me know.”

James White, of Chudley Close, said his grey-coloured kitten, called Sweet, went missing three weeks ago.

“My next door neighbours’ cat has also gone missing. There have been around seven or eight that have disappeared in our area. It is not normal for such an amount to vanish.

“We have not got a clue as to what might have happened to Sweet.”

Mr White said his cat appeared to have a happy demeanour around the home and got along well with his five-year-old child, Alex. “They would often play with another,” he said.

Gemma Barry, of Chudley Close, said her pet, James, a two-year-old pure black cat, had gone missing within the last fortnight.

Eager for his safe return, she said: “There has been a void left in my life while he has been gone.”

Anyone with information about the spate of missing cats, contact Devon and Cornwall police, asking for PC Martin Young, on 08452 777444.