'My cat is a thief': Oregon woman calls out her pet for stealing from neighbors with yard sign

Kate Felmet's cat has just brought a new meaning to the term "cat burglar." When she noticed her outdoor cat kept bringing home masks, gloves, and other household items, she decided to take matters into her own hands. With a defamatory yard sign, the Oregon resident announced that her cat was a thief. She welcomed the rightful owners of the stolen goods to collect them from her home. The yard sign featured a drawing of her cat, Esme, with a stolen glove in her mouth. Next to the sign, she placed a clothesline with all the stolen items. Passersby were encouraged to take their belongings, PEOPLE Magazine reports.

"As soon as I put the sign up, she went for a week of not bringing me anything," she said in an interview with CNN. "I had the impression she was a little mad about it." So far, most people have stopped by her yard to take photos of or with the sign she made. Nonetheless, she once noticed a school bus drive by and take a few pairs of gloves off of the clothesline. According to Felmet, she first noticed that her cat had "sticky paws" last spring when she brought home items that did not belong to the household.

The pet owner explained, "She brought home 11 masks in one day. I was so delighted that she wasn't bringing me birds, and she got a lot of praise. And maybe a few treats for the gifts that weren't recently alive." Since then, Esme has brought home even more items, including (but not limited to) several bathing suits, knee pads, rolls of tapes, packages of paint rollers, and lengths of fabric. When it comes to gloves, however, the cunning kitty "has a particular way she likes to show off her handiwork." Felmet shared, "She brings them separately but almost always goes back to get the second glove."

Many have asserted that Esme's mischief is just her way of expressing gratitude and the deep intense affection she has for her owner. Despite what others may think, the cat owner is not trying to shame Esme for her behavior. She noted that, actually, her pet seems quite proud of her achievements. Felmet said, "When she brings them, she comes to the back door and yowls, like 'Wooooar!' until I come and tell her she's done a good job." Esme and her handiwork have since been featured on KOIN 6, where the feline was described as the "klepto-cat" who has attracted worldwide attention. Felmet must be proud!