By Tim Binnall
In a wild story out of Texas, a heartbroken family claims that their cat was snatched by a neighbor who left the feline on a farm around 100 miles away from where they live. According to a local media report, the curious case of alleged catnapping began last month when Austin residents Alyssa and Patrick Duffy noticed their pet Tabby, Max, had gone missing. While frantically searching for the lost feline, the family checked a neighbor's security footage for any potential clues and saw a worrisome scene that led to an even more troubling revelation.
Filmed the day the feline went missing, the video showed another neighbor, Holly Baker, coaxing the cat to come to her in front of her home. Believing she might have some insight into Max's subsequent whereabouts, the Duffys say they received a rather shocking response when they visited her home to ask if she knew where the feline could be. The family claims that Baker told them she took the Tabby to her father's farm located in another county approximately 100 miles from their Austin neighborhood. Chillingly, the Duffys also recalled that the alleged catnapper chillingly declared, "he’s having the time of his life ... This is Texas. You can do whatever you want."
As one might imagine, Max's owners profoundly disagreed with that sentiment and turned to authorities for help with the weird situation. For her part, Baker's attorney asserted that the cat had become a dangerous nuisance that freely roamed into her yard and "was aggressive towards her and her pets," culminating in one of her animals needing veterinary care. Because of the police involvement in the case, the lawyer made no mention of the alleged catnapping. While it is uncertain whether or not the Duffys will be able to get Max back, it would appear authorities took the case seriously, as Baker was arrested for animal cruelty over the odd incident.