Cat owners in and around Norwich are fearful that a spate of recent slashings and disappearances are "just the tip of the iceberg".

Janine Hagon-Powley, 52, said alarm bells started to ring when her one-year-old tabby Gizmo went missing without a trace from her Rothbury Road, Wymondham home in early May. 

Then just a week later, she says a neighbour's cat went missing, and days after that another one seemingly disappeared from a home across the street.

Norwich Evening News: Gizmo disappeared without a trace from her home in Wymondham in early MayGizmo disappeared without a trace from her home in Wymondham in early May (Image: Janine Hagon-Powley)

"This all seems very strange and is heartbreaking for us all," Janine said. 

"When Gizmo went missing I put posters up all over town, door knocked and joined numerous lost cat groups on Facebook.

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"I have since discovered that more than seven cats have gone missing from the area in the last two months."

Norwich Evening News: Janine Hagon-Powley has discovered more than seven cats have gone missing from the Wymondham area in the last two monthsJanine Hagon-Powley has discovered more than seven cats have gone missing from the Wymondham area in the last two months (Image: Janine Hagon-Powley)

Since May, Janine says she has been approached by "countless" missing cat owners who wish to find out where their pets have gone.

"So many people have told me that their cats wouldn't go far or be out of the house for longer than three hours yet there have been no sightings," the community technology coach said.

Norwich Evening News: Kinta, an 18-month-old female tabby, has also disappeared from WymondhamKinta, an 18-month-old female tabby, has also disappeared from Wymondham (Image: Janine Hagon-Powley)

"Goodness knows how many more are missing that we don't know about. I am sure this is just the tip of the iceberg."

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It comes as the police launch a probe into numerous cat slashings in Norwich within recent weeks, prompting serious concerns of a serial cat "slasher" on the loose.

Norwich Evening News: Cat owners in the town are very upset and searching for answersCat owners in the town are very upset and searching for answers (Image: Janine Hagon-Powley)

In 2019, a similar spate of attacks happened in the NR3 area, but the police eventually closed the case over a lack of information.

Janine added: "I'm not sure if there is a connection but we have some very upset owners, children and other cats who are missing their brothers and sisters.

"We had Gizmo since he was eight weeks old and my 10-year-old daughter Grace still cries herself to sleep some nights."