The so-called Croydon cat killer has been causing great stress to pet owners for a couple of years, but there is another threat to our feline friends which is growing.

A study has revealed the number of cats being stolen has jumped sharply.

There were 181 cats reported stolen nationwide in 2014, but this increased to 261 last year – a rise of 40 per cent.

The highest number of thefts took place in Greater London where 48 were recorded, followed by Kent which had 26 thefts.

The data, collected from police forces by Direct Line Pet Insurance, shows less than a fifth (18 per cent) of stolen cats were recovered by officers.

In contrast to other recorded animal thefts, only around a quarter of police forces recorded the breed of cats stolen, compared with 68 per cent of forces which noted the breed of stolen dogs.

Of the breeds recorded, the Bengal (nine) and domestic shorthair (nine) were taken most frequently, followed by the Russian blue (five) and Siamese (five).

The distinctive characteristics of Bengals, Russian blues and Siamese pedigrees means kittens can fetch more than £350, making them prime targets for ‘cat burglars’.

It is likely the actual number of pets targeted is much higher than the figures provided by police as it is thought many thousands of thefts go unreported.

Prit Powar, head of pet insurance at Direct Line, said: "If an owner believes their cat is missing, they should first check the immediate vicinity such as in neighbouring gardens or garages as well as asking local people if they have seen it.

"If their cat is still missing, owners should contact their local animal warden."

Mr Powar also urged cat owners to "make it as difficult for would-be thieves as possible" by keeping their details on a microchip database, advertising when the animal is neutered, and quickly spreading the news of a suspected theft.