Lewis Tayler, a man from Ashford, Surrey, was shocked to witness CCTV footage showing a woman taking his valuable cat, Gus, from his doorstep and mistaking him for a backpack. The incident occurred on August 26 while the woman, dropping off her daughter at a nearby school, picked up the three-year-old feline.

After being alerted by someone who saw his missing cat posters, Lewis traced the woman to a residence in Feltham, west London. Upon confronting her and reviewing additional footage of the incident, he was deeply upset to see the woman and her companions treating Gus as a trophy while entering the house.

Despite reporting the theft to the authorities and providing evidence, the woman initially claimed she thought Gus was a backpack, later changing her story to suggest she was protecting the cat by taking him home. Following a tense confrontation, the woman’s husband eventually agreed to hire a pet detective after acknowledging their mistake in taking Gus.

Expressing his distress over the ordeal, Lewis described the situation as one of the most challenging experiences he had faced. Despite the emotional turmoil and lack of police action, Lewis persisted in his search, with the community rallying behind him for support.

With the assistance of a pet detective, efforts to locate Gus were initiated, leading to a breakthrough when the cat recognized Lewis’s scent left in a neighbor’s garden. Gus was safely returned, bringing relief to Lewis amid the stormy weather.

Surrey Police confirmed receiving a report of the cat theft and subsequent recovery, indicating ongoing investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident. The incident highlighted the importance of community support and perseverance in reuniting Gus with his owner.