Residents of a small West Oxfordshire village, Milton-under-Wychwood, are expressing deep concerns as the unexplained vanishing of cats in their community may be linked to a series of shootings. Over a span of just seven months, six cats have gone missing from this tranquil neighborhood, with a couple of them returning months later, bearing injuries and displaying a heightened fear of humans.
The return of these cats has left their owners distraught. One feline was found with a hip injury believed to be caused by some form of trauma, while another displayed signs of a brain injury. These unsettling incidents come on the heels of a distressing episode in the nearby village of Carterton, where six cats suffered injuries, and one was tragically killed, allegedly in air weapon attacks during April.
Shaznay Potter, whose cat Boyce was the fifth to mysteriously vanish from their estate, shared her anguish, saying, “My worst fear is that somebody has taken them, captured them and taken them for whatever reason that they… it’s horrible to think about, isn’t it?” The emotional toll of these disappearances extends to her daughter, as they had to break the heart-wrenching news that Boyce would not be returning home. “We all really struggled with it because he was my only boy cat. He was so affectionate. He was such an unusual cat as well. He was half Siamese. He was huge. He had really big eyes, and it was just…it was so horrible.”
Tragically, just two days after Boyce’s disappearance, another cat vanished, this time from Shaznay’s next-door neighbor, Emily Hoare. She described the situation as highly unusual, as her cat Odin was known for his affectionate nature and always staying close to home. Despite frantic efforts to locate Odin, including searches and calls, he remains missing.
William Oldham, a veterinarian at Medivet in Woodstock, noted that while it’s not uncommon for cats to roam during the summer months, the concentrated number of disappearances in the area is cause for concern. He explained that male cats, particularly in the spring, often venture out in search of females or new territory. However, the mysterious circumstances surrounding these feline disappearances have raised questions.
Thames Valley Police have acknowledged the issue, stating, “Over the last 10 months, a number of felines have gone missing from the Wellington Way area of Milton-under-Wychwood. Some cats have eventually returned; however, they have returned injured and fearful of human contact.” The community remains on edge, hoping for answers and the safe return of their beloved pets.
