An Oregon police sergeant Dave Kempas has a cat named Tigger, known as the “Kleptokitty.” Over the years, Tigger brought home all sorts of bizarre things.
After returning home with a wide range of objects, the cat burglar drops them in the driveway or back porch. As his collection grew, they called it his “staging area,” strewn with his latest finds. Later, Kempas, 59, finds them. Over the years, it became part of the daily routine. What would Tigger bring next?
Tigger the Kleptokitty via Facebook
Since the police sergeant has several cats, he wasn’t sure which one was the culprit. So, he installed a trail cam to catch the cat burglar in the act. That’s when he discovered it was Tigger. Since age one, the cat has been made the habit an all-year pursuit.
Images via Facebook/Happy Kleptokitty
Some of the things Tigger the Kleptokitty brought home:
- Goggles
- A full bag of chalk
- Paper money
- Socks and other clothes
- Underwear
- Baseballs
- My Little Pony dolls
- Batman Mask
- Minnie Mouse
- Bag of marijuana
Many of the objects probably came from the high school next door to the home. Although Tigger was at it all year, the collecting tended to pick up in the summer months.
“He’s part of my daily routine now,” Kempas said. “I get up, get my cup of coffee and see what the cat left in the driveway for me.”
On Facebook, you can find a page called “Happy Kleptokitty,” which shows Tigger’s treasures. Today, there are over 18K followers.
“Looking for his next heist! Got to spend some time with my favorite felonious feline this visit,” via Facebook.
Kleptokitty Tigger and police sergeant Dave Kempas
For unclaimed items, Kempas donated them to charity.
The Kleptokitty Brings Home Marijuana
One day, Sergeant Kempas discovered his Kleptokitty brought him drugs.
“It was just a little bud, but it was definitely weed. I’m sure he got that from over here by the high school,” Kempas said. “I told him, ‘you can’t be bringing this stuff home!'”
As for the other cats in the home, they bring home the usual fair for cats, like dead mice.
“He seems to substitute birds, mice, and snakes, with socks, candy wrappers, and weed,” Kempas said.
Over the summer of 2020, Tigger disappeared, and the family was heartbroken. Hopefully, he found a huge treasure trove and will turn up again someday. For example, we recently shared a story about Forbes the cat, who returned to his family in good health after ten years. We hope Tigger soon reunites with his family.
See more from NBC4 Columbus:
Another Nearby Kleptokitty
According to the Daily News, Tigger isn’t the only cat burglar in the area. An orange tabby named Snorri Sturluson, the “klepto kitty” began a life of crime at six months old.
Images via Instagram/ snorrithecat
💕 Obsessed with Pink Flip-Flops 💕
At two years old, Snorri made the local news as a cat burglar, stealing objects from the Montavilla neighborhood of Portland. Like Tigger, the cat is fond of items like toys and clothes. However, he seems to have a fixation on shoes, with flip-flops being his most prized finds.
Below, you can see the Kleptokitty beaming with pride about his pink treasure, which seems to be his favorite color.
After swiping the objects, the cat brings them home through the cat door. Then, his embarrassed owner Gabbie Hendel attempts to contact the victims on social media.
“I was posting pictures on Instagram, and they saw it. They’re like, ‘busted, that’s my shoe’ or ‘that’s my Frisbee,'” she said.
🩴 Kleptokitty Treasure Online 🩴
Eventually, Hendel attached a kitty cam to Snorri and began posting hilarious pictures and videos to YouTube and Instagram. Now, if an item is missing, neighbors can look online to see if Snorri snatched it.
“STOLEN: pair of busted sunglasses and a neon green garden glove. Night of 8/18. Sunglasses are a first, Snorri unlocks new skill.”
‘Sorry I Steal’🙀
According to FOX12, cat lovers around the country donated to get Snorri’s collar cam. By the way, he also wears a tag that reads, “Snorri Sturluson, Sorry I steal.”
Most recently, Snorri was proud to bring home a full-sized XL T-shirt. Who knows what this Kleptokitty will bring home next? Although it might be a bit inconvenient for the people who lost their items, it’s hilarious to see how proud Snorri looks of his prized treasures.
“Soaking wet on back patio, announced vigorously and heroically at 3 am,” reads the Instagram post.
Featured images: Instagram/snorrithecat and Facebook/Happy Kleptokitty
