Pet owners in Ipswich are being urged to keep an eye on their cats, after 22 have been reported missing in the last few weeks.

Figures from community group Missing Cats Anglia have revealed that since mid-May 22, cats have disappeared in the IP1-5 postcode areas.

However, concerns have been raised as most of those to have disappeared are believed to have been chipped and neutered.

Deni Parkes, from the Missing Cats Anglia group, said: “Missing Cats Anglia has seen a sharp increase in the number of missing cats over the past six weeks, and the majority of these cats are chipped and neutered – it’s not in their character to have wandered off.

“It is a heartbreaking sight seeing so many missing, and knowing the owners are distraught at not knowing where or what has happened to their loved feline friend.”

However, the group has also had a number of incidents of suspicious behaviour reported to them.

The first report was of a woman in Tern Road who was caught putting a cat into a small red car, by the cat’s owner, with another cat in the car appearing to belong to a neighbour.

The woman then released the cats saying she thought they were strays.

A description submitted to the group describes her as white, in her late 30s or early 40s, with blonde hair and carrying a purple tote bag with sequins on.

A second case was then reported in Pipers Vale last week of a man and a woman pacing around a house with a bag pointing at cats. The pair left when they spotted the owner watching from the window.

The man has been described as tall, white, with grey hair, with the woman described as white, short, with dark brown hair in a pony tail.

Mrs Parkes added: “We feel both cases need to be highlighted, so other cat owners can be vigilant of any suspicious behaviour, and report them to us at ipswichmissingcats@hotmail.com”

A police spokesman confirmed that no criminal activity surrounding the cats had been reported to them during that period.