A DUNSTER woman has put up a £50 reward to help trace her seven cats which have disappeared in the space of a year.
Christine Germann says she is at her wits' end and afraid for the safety of the ten cats remaining at her home in Broadwood Cottages.
Mrs Germann suspects that someone may bear a grudge against her and she is appealing for the safe return of her pets which are all under 18 months old.
Tabbies Zoe and Gizmo first went missing a year ago, followed by a black cat named Friday. Last autumn, Victor vanished before Mavos, a black tom, failed to return home.
A grey kitten called Pixie disappeared seven weeks ago and tabby Melba has not been seen for the past three weeks.
Mrs Germann, a mature student, said: "So many thoughts have been running through my head as to what could have happened to them.
"They could have been rat poisoned, eaten by another animal, run over or tourists may have picked them up.
"It's been so long that they have been missing that I have thought to myself maybe someone has got something against me."
Mr Germann, aged 40, moved to Dunster from Carhampton three years ago but the mystery started when the kittens were born.
Fields and woods surround Mrs Germann's house but she said would not lock her other cats indoors.
"There are other cats in houses nearby so I can't understand why it is just happening to mine - but I will not keep the ten in the house. It would be unfair.
"You hear about people catching cats for their fur so maybe they were stolen for this reason."
In an attempt to gain information, she has put up notices on lamp posts and around the village.
Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing cats is asked to contact Mrs Germann on 01643 822001.