Leonardo da Pinchy: New Zealand cat’s laundry crime spree is breaking the internet

In the seaside suburb of Mairangi Bay in New Zealand, one mischievous feline has become both a local menace and a minor celebrity. Meet Leo, or, as he’s now affectionately known, Leonardo da Pinchy, a 15-month-old cat whose obsession with stealing laundry has turned into a full-blown neighbourhood spectacle.

Unlike most cats who bring home dead birds or mice, Leo returns from his outdoor adventures with socks, underwear, baby clothes, and even a 5-foot-long stuffed snake. His most outrageous theft to date? A brand-new NZ$300 ($181) cashmere sweater.

“My daughter was at home sick and she rang me at work saying, ‘It’s bad, it’s bad, this is the worst thing he’s brought in, it’s really bad,” said Leo’s owner, Helen North. “Because it was beautiful. I was like, ‘Ooh, can I keep that?’ But I couldn’t.”

To reunite Leo’s stolen items with their rightful owners, North began posting in the neighbourhood WhatsApp group. Her go-to message: “Are these your undies?” But the pile of loot kept growing: socks, undergarments, sports jerseys, and more. One morning, Leo returned home with a jersey before shops had even opened.

“He brought in a jersey this morning at 10 past 8,” North said. “The shops hadn’t even opened.”

With dozens of unclaimed items scattered around her home, North took to Facebook this month, posting photos of Leo’s hauls and inviting neighbours to come retrieve their belongings. Among the visitors: a boy who recognised his missing sports jersey, name printed on the back, and a woman who spotted her pink and purple underpants.

Surprisingly, the neighbours haven’t responded with outrage. “All of our neighbours think he’s amazing,” said North. “Some of them are quite put out that he hasn’t actually stolen anything of theirs.”

Still, North has tried nearly everything to curb Leo’s kleptomaniac tendencies, keeping him indoors, offering him clothes from home, and even considering getting him a companion.

“He only wants stuff that he shouldn’t have,” she admitted. “He might teach another cat to do this.”

Leo’s “life of crime” began shortly after he was first allowed outside a year ago. While his family hopes he’ll eventually outgrow it, they’re bracing for the long haul.

“I hope he grows out of it because I don’t want to do this for like, 15 years,” North said. “This is a lot of admin.”