A Thai man in Phuket has accused two Russian women of stealing his pet cat from his home. In a video posted on March 8, Veerapong Santanoon confronted one of the women, demanding the return of his cat. The women denied the accusations, stating they only took the cat to feed it before intending to return it.
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The incident surfaced when Veerapong shared a video on Facebook, showing two women reported to be Russian leaving his home with the cat. They were seen crossing a road and entering a nearby house in the Smile Villa Village, Thalang district. The accompanying post referenced his frustration over Thailand’s visa-free policy, insinuating that it enables such incidents.
Veerapong included previous footage to validate his ownership, asserting the cat is a long-time family pet and not a stray. He described attempts to retrieve the cat, stating that one woman eventually returned the animal, though he rejected her explanation about feeding it.
Locals in the village described the women as “troublemakers,” according to Veerapong. The situation has added to ongoing concerns regarding foreign visitors, albeit many do not cause issues, as noted by Veerapong. This incident echoes a similar case from July last year involving another foreign national taking a pet cat in Phuket.
Looking forward, it is uncertain how this incident might affect perceptions of tourists under Thailand’s visa-free policy. Authorities have not stated whether any official action will follow. The dispute highlights tensions surrounding foreign residents’ interactions within local communities and the treatment of animals assumed to be strays, reported The Thaiger.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now · The Thaiger · 10 Mar 2026