There are still no leads after more than 24 cats disappeared from homes in the east end of Truro, N.S.
The SPCA says reports have been coming in through their phone line and significantly through social media.
"At this point and time, the numbers are slightly higher," says Taylor Burke of the Nova Scotia SPCA.
Burke says cat owners should contact police if one goes missing, as the matter has become a criminal investigation.
She says to her knowledge, none of the cats have turned up at the shelter.
“When an animal comes into our shelter, the first thing that we do is scan for a microchip,” says Burke. “We advocate to have your cat microchipped."
Having your cat microchipped is an easy procedure that will give shelters information on the pet's owner.
Burke says it can help in these types of situations.
"A microchip is about the size of a grain of rice and it's implanted by a veterinarian," says Burke.
Police are still not sure whether a person or animal may be involved, but they're asking anyone who sees something they believe to be suspicious to report it.
Ian Avery, the president of the Nova Scotia Federation of Anglers and Hunters, says 90 per cent of a coyote and fisher’s diet is wild game.
"Coyotes and fishers do eat domestic animals, cats and dogs, but they don't primarily prey on them,” says Avery. “They typically will use it as an opportunity to kill."
Avery says there is a healthy population of both animals throughout the entire province.
"In a province like Nova Scotia we have a large hunting community, and a lot of our hunters use wild game cameras. I'm surprised nobody has put out a wild game camera to catch a coyote in their backyard," says Avery.
While there is no proof of animals or humans being to blame, Avery says it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Police are reminding all pet owners in the Truro area to keep their animals indoors at all times as they continue their investigation.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Suzette Belliveau.
