Cat's new hobby is terrorizing the neighborhood. No one knows whose underwear might be stolen next

Many say cats are mysterious animals, full of quirks and surprises. Some love cuddles, others prefer their independence, but then there’s one, Leonardo da Pinchy, the feline with a mischievous twist. More than treats or catching mice, this cat has found a new love for stealing clothes. The owner of this 15-month-old cat, Helen North, who resides in the beachside area of Mairangi Bay in Auckland, New Zealand, has shared with Associated Press about the complete ordeal she is facing because of Leo's latest hobby of 'thieving' apparently. 

The feline has immediately gotten popular in its neighbourhood and earned the nickname of 'Leonardo da Pinchy'. But while many would assume that the cat steals mere socks or a T-shirt now and then, it actually has a liking for finer silhouettes, some that even cost $181, like a brand-new cashmere sweater.  The owner jokes, “Because it was beautiful. I was like, ‘Ooh, can I keep that?’ But I couldn’t.” North shares how the pile of clothing items just kept growing, so she decided to look for the rightful owners of these items and started asking questions, "Are these your undies?" in the neighborhood WhatsApp group. 

Leo's collection took one step higher when, besides clothes, he once stole a 5-foot-long stuffed snake. To tackle the stolen items situation faster, North started posting pictures of the things on a local Facebook page with her residential address and a sincere apology for the inconvenience too. But while one may think that these acts would annoy the neighbours, the opposite happened, and Leo quickly became a local legend. North shares, "All of our neighbors think he’s amazing. Some of them are quite put out that he hasn’t actually stolen anything of theirs."

Since these little heists started a year ago, when Leo was first allowed to go outdoors, North decided that restraining him indoors would be the ideal solution. She also left out her household clothes for him to steal, but both approaches failed. "He only wants stuff that he shouldn’t have." The idea of adopting another pet to keep him company and busy from indulging in these activities came as an online suggestion, but North wasn't too enthusiastic about it. Sharing that she is worried that "he might teach another cat to do this" instead.

A few experts share their opinions on why such behavior occurs in cats. As reported in The Guardian, cats don’t steal just to misbehave; they often have natural or emotional reasons. According to Dr. Claudia Vinke of Utrecht University, they may be seeking attention, wanting to play, or acting on hunting instincts, like bringing prey home. Smelly items, like socks, may also bother their sense of territory. "When you pay attention to the cat, you are reinforcing the behaviour," Vinke says.

Dennis Turner, a faculty member from the University of Zurich, further adds that materials like wool and plastic might attract cats due to scents like lanolin. To stop the habit, he suggests leaving the room quietly and discarding the item once the cat moves on. North continues sharing that she can now only wish Leo eventually loses interest in stealing, stating, "I hope he grows out of it because I don’t want to do this for like, 15 years."