More than 100 people gathered in Hull on Sunday evening for a candle-lit vigil to remember Max, an eight-year-old rescue cat whose body was found in woodland after his severed tail was posted through his owners' mailbox.
Max was last seen in the shared garden of his owners' Appleton Road flat at about 12pm on Monday, September 14. When Louise and Lisa returned home at 4pm, Max had disappeared. The couple initially thought the cat might have run away.
The pair posted appeals on Facebook asking if anyone had seen Max, describing him as "daft as a brush" and noting that he loved people, "especially men".
Tail found in mailbox
On Saturday, September 19, Lisa opened her mailbox slot in the couple's apartment building and found Max's severed tail lying inside. Police were called, and the tail, which Lisa believes was pulled off, has been sent for forensic testing.
On Friday, September 25, the distraught couple found Max's body near their home. They believe his body was placed in the woods behind Appleton Road and Cropton Road sometime that day, HullLive reported.
The couple said they had searched the woods multiple times over the past two weeks without finding any trace of Max. The body was discovered by a neighbour who was walking their dog.
Community shows support
The horrific incident has left the couple living in fear, and they have since sent their other cat away to live with friends for its own safety. Lisa thanked the public for the amount of "love and support" the couple has been given and asked local residents to check CCTV.
The couple held a vigil outside their home. "Max shone a light in our darkest days, we won't give up 'til we get justice done," a heartbroken Lisa told those gathered. Candles were lit and placed at the foot of Max's favourite tree, which was wrapped in ribbon to pay tribute to the much-loved cat.
Lisa stood up proudly in front of the huge crowd at the vigil and said: "We have to remember the good memories and his cheeky face - not how he ended up but how he lived. He was an amazing cat."
