Police Return Town's Prized Maine Coon to Owner, Who Instantly Realizes, "I'm in Big Trouble"

A Maine Coon cat, seeking shelter from the rain, hopped into a police car and proceeded to groom itself and knead its claws on the officer's lap. According to Newsweek, Carly Thomson, a cat owner living in Halstead, was surprised when police officers showed up at her door with her Maine Coon, Cleo, leading her to initially fear that her cat had caused some trouble.

The police explained that Cleo, upon seeing the police car, had jumped inside to escape the rain, making herself comfortable on the seats and even kneading on the officers' laps. They quickly recognized her as Halstead's famous feline and promptly returned her home. The Essex Police - Braintree District posted about the incident on their Facebook page, and the amusing experience instantly garnered tens of thousands of likes.

Carly Thomson does not usually restrict her cat Cleo's movements, allowing her to roam freely outdoors. She even created a Facebook page called "Adventures of Cleo" to document sightings of Cleo by locals, effectively turning her into a local celebrity cat.

It is common practice in the UK to allow cats to roam freely. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) has stated that, unless for health reasons, they do not recommend keeping cats accustomed to outdoor activities indoors. However, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) believes that outdoor environments pose certain risks and urges owners to keep their cats indoors.