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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Lifestyle

How my ginger tom became a terrible klepto-cat

Ginger tom cat at rest in a garden on a summer day.
‘Sam swiftly learned to open our fridge and remove any item he chose’ (picture posed by model). Photograph: James Matthews/Alamy

Regarding cat thieves (Cat burglars: scientists try to solve mystery of why felines ‘steal’ random objects, 20 July), some years ago I lived in a terraced street in south-east London, and had two cats. One was called Sam – a large neutered ginger male, like a small lion, who was extremely affectionate and characterful.

He never caught any birds or mice. Sam preferred human food. He swiftly learned to open our fridge and remove any item he chose. We fitted child-proof locks. So he started going elsewhere – raiding houses with cat flaps.

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