$5,000 reward for missing B.C. housecat

A B.C. woman is going to extraordinary lengths to find her missing cat including an offer of a $5,000 reward

Barb Cook has put up hundreds of posters, taken out classified ads, started an online campaign and even called in tracking dogs in an effort to find the two-year-old female cat, Kitty, the Kelowna Courier reports.

"Some people think I am a bit fanatical about this," said Cook, "but Kitty is part of my family and this is what I would do for any member of my family that was missing."

Kittywho went missing July 30 is grey, with white markings on her paws, belly, around her neck and on her nose.

Cook, a teacher from Fort St. John, B.C., had brought Kitty to Kelowna for babysitting at her mother's house, before flying off to Texas to visit her boyfriend.

She had also planned to visit San Diego, Calif., for a teachers' conference.

While in Texas, Cook got a call that Kitty, who's almost exclusively an indoor cat, had gotten out.

Cancelled trip

Initially, Cook's mother thought the cat was in a neighbour's garage.

But when the cat didn't come back the very next day, panic set in.

Cook returned to Kelowna on an emergency flight and cancelled the San Diego leg of her trip.

"I'm not angry with my mom for letting Kitty get out somehow, but I'm angry with the situation," said Cook.

A $5,000 reward is almost unheard of in a missing-cat case, says Cook.

"Yes, $5,000 is a lot of money, especially to me because that's supposed to be my down payment for my first house," said Cook.

"But that's not important right now. What's important is that someone takes notice of the $5,000 and helps me find Kitty."

So far, Cook's campaign has prompted two calls that she rushed out to investigate. The cats looked like Kitty but definitely weren't Kitty.

"I'm just hoping Kitty is OK, but lost in a city she doesn't know. I hope someone can help me find her."