Searching for Zeus

​A family has offered a BD500 reward for the safe return of its beloved and distinctively-marked silver Bengal cat called Zeus.
Heartbroken owner Sarah Al Sairafi says her 10-year-old pet, which she has cherished since he was a kitten, disappeared from the family home in Umm Al Hassam on the morning of Sunday, March 4, whilst she was away.
“I do think he must have been picked up,” she said. “He’s got a gorgeous coat and at a glance you can tell he’s not a street cat.
“My family and friends have been incredible. They’ve done and are doing everything they can. I was away in Dubai when it happened, which was a horrible hopeless feeling. But I couldn’t have done anything better myself. The community in Umm Al Hassam and surrounding areas has also been so touchingly helpful.”
Sarah, 30, a talent manager, who is engaged to her high school sweetheart Sammy Yassin, got Zeus as a little kitten for company in 2007 whilst she was studying at university in the UK, her mum’s home country.
Bengals are an intelligent and active domestic breed, developed to look like exotic jungle cats and boast distant links to the Asian leopard cat. They are known for being especially vocal and friendly.
Sarah’s Bahraini dad, retired Jaffer, and mum, Debbie, miss Zeus just as much, and he’s a particular favourite of Sarah’s grandmother, Jean, 87, who regularly visits.
 “He’s a gentle Bengal,” said Sarah. “He snuck out the door when it was open - which he has done in the past - but he never normally goes past the garden. This time, as we saw on the security camera, he jumped the wall.
“He’s very loving but keeps to himself and has been quite jumpy since he got off the plane from London to Bahrain in 2009. He’s attached to me the most - sleeps with me though likes to hide during the day. He has a love-hate relationship with our daschund, Bambi.
“I’m certain Bambi sees Zeus as a big brother. She’s been quite down since Zeus has been gone.”
Despite the generous reward being offered, so far the search for Zeus has drawn a blank.
“Unfortunately nothing positive yet,” Sarah said, “though there have been some sightings. We’ve been told by a gentlemen in the area that he handed a cat he found the same day Zeus went missing to a lady who has previously asked him for a nice street cat to look after. We’ve put up posters in the building she lives in, though she has been difficult to get hold of to double check.”
There were other reports that a woman was seen in the area feeding strays, which could be the same lady, may have taken in Zeus, who will be 11 in June, for safe keeping and may be unaware of the search for him.
If you can help, email [email protected], call 17299181, or WhatsApp Sarah on 39333377.

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