An eight-year-old tabby cat whose severed tail was posted through his owners' letterbox has been found dead in woods near their home in Hull, East Yorkshire. Max was discovered by a dog walker on Friday, a week after his distinctive white-tipped tail was left for the couple, Louise, 45, and Lisa, 47, to find.
Louise said Max's body had been left just off a main path in woodland close to their flat. She said: "He was placed just off the main path and wasn't there late last night." Investigators have now taken samples of Max's fur as part of a search for DNA as police continue to probe his death.
Disappearance and Discovery
Max disappeared from the couple's home on September 14. Louise had put him in the front garden at around midday before going out. But when she returned later that afternoon, Max - who would normally run to greet her at the car - had vanished. The couple put up missing posters after becoming increasingly worried something had happened to him.
Five days later, Lisa went to collect their mail from the shared post area at their block of flats. She began screaming after discovering Max's severed tail had been pushed through their own letterbox. Louise said: "I just heard Lisa screaming and crying. That is something I will never forget. She was calling for me to ring the police. I started crying and screaming. I just broke down. I thought Lisa must have found him collapsed on the floor - but when I got there I realised it was not his whole body, it was just his tail."
Investigation and Appeal
The couple immediately recognised the distinctive white tip, which Louise said looked "like a paintbrush". Max's tail was sent to a specialist vet in Liverpool for examination, including tests aimed at establishing whether it was removed before or after his death. Louise said she had been haunted by the possibility it may have been cut off while he was still alive.
The couple are appealing for anyone with CCTV which may show people coming in or out of the gates around their property to come forward. They said they are "so very grateful" for the huge number of messages and support they have received since Max's disappearance. A fundraising page has been launched by a friend of the couple to build a reward for information which leads to the arrest and conviction of whoever was responsible for Max's death.
Community Support
The JustGiving appeal had raised £1,475 by Sunday morning. Louise and Lisa, who have been together for nine years, have scaled back plans for their forthcoming wedding following Max's death. They had planned a celebration at a pub with a buffet after their registry office ceremony. But they now plan to have just one drink afterwards because they say they cannot bear the thought of celebrating.
Humberside Police said on Monday that anyone with information which may assist its investigation should call the non-emergency number 101 quoting reference 26*132718.
