WELLINGTON, New Zealand. While most cat owners dread finding mice or birds left as “gifts,” one Auckland family is grappling with a far stranger problem: their 15-month-old cat has turned into a serial thief.
Known in the neighborhood as Leonardo da Pinchy, the mischievous feline has been caught stealing underwear, socks, baby clothes, and even a $181 (NZ$300) cashmere sweater from homes in Mairangi Bay, a quiet beachside suburb.
“He only wants stuff that he shouldn’t have,” said owner Helen North, who now spends much of her time trying to return the stolen items via local WhatsApp and Facebook groups. Her typical message: “Are these your undies?”
Leo’s daily haul often includes expensive items like silk boxers and work socks, usually with clothespins still attached. On one record-breaking day, he brought home nine pieces of clothing, enough to assemble a mismatched full outfit.
“He brought in a jersey this morning at 10 past 8,” North said. “The shops hadn’t even opened.”
North once received a panicked call from her daughter after Leo returned with the new cashmere sweater. “She rang me at work saying, ‘It’s bad, it’s bad, this is the worst thing he’s brought in,’” North recalled. “Because it was beautiful. I was like, ‘Ooh, can I keep that?’ But I couldn’t.”
Despite efforts to confine him indoors or provide him with clothes to steal from home, Leo’s fascination with forbidden laundry continues. North rejected suggestions to adopt another cat as a distraction. “He might teach another cat to do this,” she warned.
So far, the community has taken Leo’s antics in stride. “All of our neighbors think he’s amazing,” said North. “Some are quite put out that he hasn’t actually stolen anything of theirs.”
Still, with dozens of unclaimed items piling up, the family hopes Leo outgrows his kleptomania soon.
“I hope he grows out of it because I don’t want to do this for like, 15 years,” North said. “This is a lot of admin.”
For now, Leonardo da Pinchy remains a free agent and a furry legend in Mairangi Bay.
Paraluman P. Funtanilla
Paraluman P. Funtanilla is Tutubi News Magazine's Marketing Specialist and is a Contributing Editor. She finished her degree in Communication Arts in De La Salle Lipa. She has worked as a Digital Marketer for start-up businesses and small business spaces for the past two years. She has earned certificates from Coursera on Brand Management: Aligning Business Brand and Behavior and Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content. She also worked with Asia Express Romania TV Show.
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
