A young woman has been using social media in her attempts to find her stolen cat.

Galactica Hilton, 18, has posted on various local Facebook pages after her cat, Salem, was taken from the Tomorrow’s People charity shop in Gillingham High Street last month.

The pet was taken from the store at around 4pm on Monday, December 18, after a woman with a child reportedly put the animal in a cardboard box and then into her buggy, before claiming she was taking it to the Cats Protection adoption centre.

Galactica has put several posters up in Gillingham appealing for information.

Salem is allowed to roam freely and is often in the charity shop but lives with Galactica and her mother and brother in the town.

Galactica, who is on a gap-year from university, has had Salem for nine years, since she was just a few weeks old, and was bought by her late father, who passed away in September.

She also had a litter of kittens, of which Galactica still has three – and the teenager says the young cats miss their mum very much and keep calling for her.

Galactica has checked shelters and vets and contacted the police about Salem, who has gone missing four times before.

She said: “A few months ago, a man came into the charity shop and picked Salem up and said, ‘I need a companion, so I’m taking the cat’ and took her home with him.

“We put posters up and managed to get her back because he brought her back to the shop.”

Police have confirmed the latest incident has been filed pending further investigation.

Galactica has made it clear in her Facebook posts that she does not wish for anyone to get into trouble.

She said: “I don’t want anyone to be punished over this, I just want my cat back.”

Hanna Sapsed, manager of Tomorrow’s People, said: “The cats have become our mascots -– elderly people come in to see them.

“It’s upsetting that someone would take someone else’s pet, but people have threatened to take the pets away before, to pets protection or the RSPCA.”

If you know the whereabouts of Salem or have information, you can contact Galactica on 07412660370.