A Watford cat owner believes her pet was stolen and “taken to die” after he was found dead near Luton Airport.

Crystal Caffrey, who lives in a flat in The Parade, told police she believed her tabby Hunter had been taken after her missing posters kept being torn down.

The “heartbroken” 21-year-old also contacted the RSCPA and a local cat rescuer – but two weeks later she got “the worst phone call imaginable”.

“My cat was left on the motorway by Luton Airport deceased,” Ms Caffrey told the Watford Observer.

Watford Observer: Owner Crystal Caffrey, 21, with her cat Hunter. Owner Crystal Caffrey, 21, with her cat Hunter.

“He was an indoor cat! In my flyer I had threatened to get the police and my housing involved and that I would stop at nothing to get my boy back.

“And that was the day he was found deceased.”

Highways staff looked at CCTV footage but there were reportedly no cameras covering where he was found.

Ms Caffrey had told Herts Police she believed her cat had been stolen but said due to a lack of evidence they were unable to investigate.

Watford Observer: Hunter was found dead near Luton Airport.Hunter was found dead near Luton Airport.

She continued: “I know in my heart my boy was stolen as the vets said for the time he had been gone he was very healthy like someone had been feeding him.

“All I have are suspicions, but I wanted to get my story out and hope that the person/people who did this to my boy will see this and know that I know he didn’t walk to Luton.

“He was taken to die!”

The mother-of-one described Hunter as “just like family” and said they were “joined at the hip”, with the tabby often enjoying being washed in the bath.

Watford Observer: Hunter enjoyed being washed in the bath.Hunter enjoyed being washed in the bath.

“It’s like a piece of me is missing,” she added.

“People will say he’s just a cat but to me he was everything, it’s just horrible.”

The 21-year-old said she believes someone initially stole Hunter before trying to cover their tracks by making it appear like he got lost.

She also urged cat owners to be wary that this sort of thing can happen.

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