Anubis is one of Lisa Magrath's six cats.

"They are all refugees, they have either been hand-reared by me or rescued in some way" But she hasn't seen him for over a week.

"He isn't the sort of cat to go off, he actually waits on the deck for me if I am late home."

Lisa, who is a theatre nurse at Taranaki Base Hospital, says while she hopes he has simply got trapped in someone's shed or garage, she is worried he may have fallen foul of a cat trap.

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"I was told someone on the street had trapped a feral cat, and set it free across town. I am worried the cat wasn't feral but was in fact Anubis. He certainly would have behaved like a wild cat if he found himself caught in a cage. Any cat would."

Lisa says she has spent hours searching for Anubis and is appealing for people to check their properties and to keep an eye out for the black cat she says took her four years to gain his trust.

I can't bear to think he has been deliberately dumped somewhere far away from home. If he was caught in a trap, then I wish the person who caught him had checked to see if he was a feral cat and not someone's much loved pet.

Steve Ellis, environment services manager for Taranaki Regional Council (TRC) says feral cats are identified as a surveillance pest animal under the pest management strategy for Taranaki. While TRC provide advice and information on the control of feral cats, Steve says TRC make no commitment to destroying feral cats caught by trapping.

"It is the responsibility of the person trapping feral cats to ensure the cat is feral and if it is destroyed that it is done humanely."

North Taranaki SPCA spokesperson Jackie Poles-Smith says if people do catch a cat, they should always assume it is someone's pet.

"Bring it to the SPCA or a local vet to be scanned for a microchip."

Jackie encourages people to check use this website - a nationwide database for lost and found pets, as well as animals for adoption.

"Whether you are looking for a missing pet, or have found one and want to find the owners, the website is a great place to start."

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Anubis has not turned up, on the petsonthenet website or at Lisa's Cassandra Street home. His space on the couch is waiting, and Lisa and her other feline companions, Apollo, Thor, Achilles, Willow and Pretree are all hoping he will stroll in through the door looking for his dinner soon.

If you have spotted Anubis, give Lisa a call or text and let her know. 027 749 4622.