A reward offered for the return of Thomas Stuart, the town cat, started at $500 on Monday, and was up to $1000 Wednesday according to the Divine Designs Salon Facebook page.
If Thomas is returned safely, the reward would be paid, no questions asked, according to Erica Cipko Wade. The feline, who is a mascot of sorts for Stuart, was last seen around noon on Thursday, November 30.
Thomas, who was wearing a green and black bowtie collar when last seen, typically splits his time between the law office of Chris Corbett, where Wade is employed, and Divine Designs Salon. Both are on Main Street in Stuart.
“Tom’s been here for four, four and a half years now, doing the same thing every day,” Wade said. “It’s not like him to just get gone.”
Another concern is that one of Thomas’ daughters, Marcy Boots, was reported missing by her family at Quilted Colors on Monday, November 27.
While many sightings of Thomas have been reported on his Facebook page, so far, they are thought to be his offspring.
“He sired a lot of cats before” he was neutered, Wade said. “He’s just special and we want him back.”
In addition to his bowtie, Thomas has a distinct nick on one of his ears, and is unable to retract one of his toenails, Wade said.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call Corbett’s office at (276) 694-7145; the salon at (276) 694-4455, the Stuart Town Office at (276) 694-3811, or on Thomas Stuart’s Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/STUARTSCATTOM.
