In the realm of feline mischief, there’s a difference between cat burglars and cat-burglars, and Taboo, a 12-year-old black-and-white cat from West Yorkshire, epitomizes the latter.
Taboo has made a name for herself by pilfering an array of items, including gloves, socks, underpants, and shoes, from homes throughout her neighborhood. Her owner, Sandra Danskin, now regularly posts photos of the stolen loot on social media, allowing residents to reclaim their misplaced belongings.
Sandra, who works night shifts, finds herself greeted by an eclectic assortment of stolen items upon returning home. “Whenever I come back from work, there are all sorts of things waiting for me,” Danskin told SWNS. “This morning, there were four pairs of socks and a pair of underpants. Taboo also has a penchant for unusual items like mop heads and kitchen rolls.”
On one memorable occasion, Taboo brought back a box of eggs—though they were all broken, suggesting she had swiped them from a doorstep where they were left by the milkman.
Neighbors have humorously suggested changing their locks or finding a way to train Taboo to target higher-end items like Rolex watches. Sandra suspects that Taboo may be swiping clothes from washing lines or sneaking into homes with open doors. Taboo was only caught once, when a neighbor saw her trying to steal a T-shirt from his clothes dryer.
“If she brings back a sock, she always returns for the matching one, so there’s always a pair,” Danskin said. “I have a box full of her ‘loot,’ and periodically, I post photos on Facebook so people can identify and claim their items.”
Originally a house cat belonging to Sandra’s daughter Gemma, Taboo’s kleptomaniac tendencies became too much for Gemma to handle, and Taboo moved in with Sandra and her three other cats. Now, Taboo signals her successful heists with a distinctive high-pitched howl.
“Whenever she’s nabbed something, she sits outside and makes this whining noise to let me know,” Danskin said. “I’ve tried reasoning with her, but she’s relentless—underwear, socks, shoes, you name it.”
Interestingly, Taboo isn’t alone in her criminal pursuits. She joins the ranks of Charlie, the infamous Klepto-Cat of Bristol, who became well-known for her similar thieving antics involving toys. It seems tuxedo cats have a particular knack for turning their homes into bustling crime scenes!