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Wellington, New Zealand (AP) – Most cat owners fear pets bringing their mice and birds home. But for the owner of one felony cat in Auckland, New Zealand, embarrassing is bad.
In this photo provided by Helen North, Leo the Laundry Steel cat posed at her Auckland home in New Zealand on July 24, 2024. (Helen North via AP) Photo provided by Helen North on July 20, 2025 shows some of the photos taken by Leo, a carrying cat stealing laundry in Auckland, New Zealand. (Helen North via AP) This photo provided by Helen North shows Cat Leo posing on September 25th, 2024, laundry stealing Cat Leo, with some of the socks in Auckland, New Zealand. (Helen North via AP)
His prolific laundry pinch from the clothesline and bedroom in a calm beachside neighborhood in Mylangi Bay transformed the 15-month-old Leo into a local celebrity and won him a new moniker. He’s now heading to Leonardo da Pinch.
And he has an expensive taste. His frequent hauls include silk boxer shorts, thick men’s work socks (preferably with a washing statue still attached), and one episode of his human repentance, a brand new 300 New Zealand dollars ($181) cashmere sweater.
“My daughter was at home and she called me at work saying, ‘It’s bad, it’s bad, this is the worst thing he’s brought in, and that’s really bad,'” said Leo’s owner, Helen North. “Because it was beautiful. I was like, ‘Oh, can I keep it?” But I couldn’t. ”
Instead, North turned his eyes to a nearby WhatsApp group and returned Leo’s stolen property to the legitimate owner. Her usual message: “Are these your underwear?”
However, the stolen stashes continued to pile up socks (stakes), underwear (packages), and even 5 feet long plush toys (strange). On one day of record setting, Leo returned with nine items. If you don’t mind all the mix, from baby clothes to menswear, then it’s enough for a perfect outfit.
“He brought his jersey this morning at 8am the past eight,” North said. “The store wasn’t open either.”
With dozens of items not being charged, the embarrassing owner searched Leo’s victim more widely this month and posted a photo of his chores on his local Facebook page along with an apology and her address. Those who appeared to assert their belongings included a woman who recognized pink and purple underpants, and a boy who could identify his name with his beloved sports jersey printed on his back to help.
North, who had anticipated Leo’s cat’s burgling attitude, is one of his targets, allergic to cats, drying laundry indoors.
“All of our neighbors think he’s amazing,” she said. “Some of them are pretty much put out in that he doesn’t actually steal their stuff.”
Still, North tried everything to curb the cat’s laundry obsession. There’s no luck.
“He only wants what he shouldn’t have,” she said, adding that she doesn’t want to risk the online suggestion that Leo simply needed another playmate.
“He might teach another cat to do this,” North said.
Leo’s crime life began a year ago when he was first allowed outside. However, his family hopes it is just a boyhood stage.
“I don’t want to do this for 15 years, so I hope he grows from it,” North said. “This is a lot of managers.”
For now, Leonardo da Pinchy remains on a massive scale on the streets of Mylangi Bay.
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