Disappearing internet cat stirs worldwide concern

E-mails from around the world have flooded in to the New Zealand newspaper and news website that yesterday published the story of Ollie the missing internet cat.

Ollie, the subject of 88 internet stories over the past two years, has not been seen by its Napier owner author Beverley Dunlop, for more than a week, but there was a ray of hope today when Mrs Dunlop telephoned the Hawke's Bay Today newspaper to say she was heading to Flaxmere to follow up a possible sighting.

People from all over the world had e-mailed Mrs Dunlop and Hawke's Bay Today expressing their concern and support.

nzherald.co.nz who posted the story as well, had also received many e-mails from all over the world.

"We hope your coverage of Ollie the cat's disappearance brings him back to his owner, Bev, and to the hearts of his many fans all over the world," Lydia Woods of Maryland, in the United States, said.

"Bev has entertained us immensely with stories of Ollie's adventures. We feel he is a part of our lives, and his disappearance brought tears to many of us."

An e-mail from Susan Mawdsley in Canada said: "Irrepressible Ollie and his unbelievable antics have captured my heart, and there is an entire Canadian contingent here in Calgary hoping and sending our thoughts for his safe return."

Mrs Dunlop said she had expected a big response from the publicity, but her hopes of finding Ollie were fading.

"I'm sure, with all the publicity, someone would have notified us if they had found him on the road. But, realistically, he could be anywhere between Auckland and Wellington."

While there was a glimmer of hope that the Flaxmere sighting was Ollie, Mrs Dunlop suspected the cat's trusting nature, and inclination to take siestas in the back of cars, may have been what got him into trouble.

- HAWKE'S BAY TODAY