Undie-loving cat burglar pilfers 30 pairs of boxer briefs from unknown neighbor

HAMILTON, New Zealand, March 22 (UPI) -- A New Zealand woman said her cat has a funny way of showing her affection: with gifts of men's underwear and socks stolen from an unknown source.

Sarah Nathan of Hamilton posted a photo to Facebook showing off some of the about 30 pairs of men's boxer briefs and more than 100 socks her Tonkinese cat, Brigit, has been bringing home as a tribute to her owner.

"She's showing her love by bringing me underpants," Nathan told the CBC's As it Happens.

"You can't not notice it when a pair of stripey men's underpants arrives in your hallway when you're living in an all-girl house," Nathan said.

Nathan said she has been putting flyers up around her neighborhood in the hope of identifying the owner of the pilfered undergarments. A photo of one of Nathan's flyers was posted to Reddit.

"I'm pretty sure the underwear is coming from the same source," she said.

Nathan said Brigit has a history of thieving and used to take children's toys and clothing from neighbors when they lived in Beerescourt.

"Keeping cats indoors isn't common in New Zealand," Nathan told the BBC. "Brigit doesn't hunt birds or wildlife so it seems unnecessary and our neighbors have been very good natured about it."

"But we are moving to the country soon so hopefully she will run out of opportunity!" she said.