HOLD onto your cats! That's the message from RSPCA inspectors who say scores of Preston's moggies could be falling victim to a mystery catnapper.

A huge number of the town's animal lovers have recorded their feline friends missing - and fear that the spate of so-called abductions are linked.

RSPCA chiefs, who are keen to get their claws into the case, are now alerting cat owners to be extra vigilant about where their pets are.

They believe that the stolen cats could be being used as dog fighting bait - a particularly nasty, illegal sport which is usually held in remote places.

Preston-based RSPCA Inspector Stephen Greenhalgh said: "There have been disappearances across the area and it is very worrying, not to mention suspicious. I would urge all cat owners to be extra vigilant at the present time. Although it is impossible to know where your cat is all the time it is very important to have a rough idea of where they should be."

Inspector Greenhalgh added that there were suspicions an organised group of catnappers could be at work and urged any one who believes there cat to be missing to report it immediately.

"Generally people don't report their pet missing for a few days because cats tend to wander off.

"But the problem needs sorting out and we can do that a lot more quickly if we find out about disappearances sooner.

"We would especially like to hear from anyone who sees someone grab a cat and dash off in a car."

Anyone who does believe their cat has gone missing should contact the RSPCA on (0990) 555999.

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