More than 30 pet cats in Lake Hayes Estate, near Queenstown, have disappeared over the past 12 months and there are fears they are being trapped and killed.
Queenstown Cat Rescue co-founder Julia Milley, of Dalefield, said the independent charitable trust received telephone calls "all the time" from owners on the estate reporting their cats missing.
There had been six or seven calls in the last few months.
The cats varied in age and were obviously domesticated, not feral, due to their condition and behaviour, she said.
"Cats have either gone back to where they previously lived, or wandered off.
"But it's very suspicious when there's no bodies and a lot of missing cats, which tends to make me think somebody is trapping and killing them out there."
Estate resident Dave Esler said yesterday it was odd cats were going missing without trace.
His family lost two cats within the past six months. When he advertised for his cats' return before Christmas, five neighbours told him they also lost their pets.
The cats cost the Eslers $500 to buy and in veterinarian costs, but there was no dollar value on the distress the loss of the cats had on his 3-year-old and 8-year-old daughters.
"The cats are probably going on to someone's property who doesn't want them in the area ... and the law states if an animal is coming on to your property and worrying your stock, you have the right to trap that animal and kill it humanely.
"Generally, if you're going to trap feral cats you'd say to your neighbours 'keep your cats inside' ..."
Ms Milley said Queenstown Cat Rescue had not picked up any of the missing cats.
SPCA Otago chief inspector Virginia Pine, of Alexandra, said this week there was no evidence to suggest cats were going missing from the estate any more than elsewhere in the province.
Senior Constable Sean Drader, of Queenstown, said yesterday police had not received any reports of lost or missing cats.
Lakes Hayes Community Association chairman Kevin Burdon said yesterday he was "very disturbed" to hear cats were going missing from the estate.
"We hope there is nothing sinister behind it."
