Phuket Cat Dispute: Russian Tourists Accused of Taking Pet, Deny Theft

A dispute over a pet cat in Phuket has drawn attention after a local man accused two Russian tourists of taking his animal, while the women insisted it was a misunderstanding.

The incident came to light on March 8, when the cat’s owner, Veerapong Santanoon, shared CCTV footage on social media. The video shows him confronting one of the women and demanding the return of his pet.

In the footage, two foreign women — reportedly Russian nationals — are seen leaving Veerapong’s property. One of them is carrying the cat as they cross the road and head toward a nearby house in the Smile Villa Village area in Thalang district.

To support his claim, Veerapong also posted older videos of the cat, saying his family had raised it and allowed it to roam freely within their residential area. He stressed that the animal was not a stray and was familiar with the neighborhood.

According to the owner, he repeatedly rang the bell at the women’s residence, but they initially avoided contact. Eventually, one of them came outside holding the cat and returned it.

During the confrontation, the woman denied stealing the animal, explaining that she had only taken it to feed it and intended to bring it back. Veerapong rejected this explanation, clearly expressing disagreement before leaving the scene.

In his post, he described the situation as an example of problems linked to the visa-free travel scheme. While acknowledging that many tourists behave appropriately, he said some create issues within local communities.

He also claimed that residents in the area had previously described the two women as causing disturbances.

The case follows a similar incident reported last July, when another foreigner was caught on CCTV taking a cat from a restaurant in Phuket and leaving by taxi. That situation also sparked debate online, with some suggesting the man may not have intended to steal the animal but rather believed it needed care.