A resident of Lincolnshire has been left distressed after her beloved pet cat came home with a significant amount of fur missing, believed to have been purposely shaved off. Jacqui Field, a resident of Gosberton, near Spalding, was shocked to discover on 7 May that her cat, Bertie, had a large patch of fur missing from his side. Mrs Field was in disbelief at her finding, relaying the shock she felt, “I couldn’t believe what I was witnessing. It appears someone held him down to commit this act, it’s an awful, distressing revelation. It’s entirely disgraceful.” Lincolnshire Police are urging anyone with knowledge of similar occurrences to come forward to the proper authorities and the RSPCA.
The upsetting incident has caused Bertie, who is just three years old, to become rather subdued and avoidant, a change from his usual behaviour of seeking food without hesitation. Mrs Field observed, “He was avoidant and didn’t want to engage with anyone, a complete departure from his usual behaviour. He would typically come, leap onto my lap and show affection. It seemed like he was fearful of everyone, worried they might harm him.” Mrs Field believes it’s possible that more than one individual was involved, as Bertie would typically have tried to escape if he was not restrained. Similar distressing experiences have been reported earlier this year in local areas Pinchbeck and Kirton, near Boston, though it’s currently uncertain if these incidents are related.
This story has been adapted from the original story by the BBC and reproduced here by The Lincoln Post.