MARY ESTHER -- A woman who misses her cat desperately is offering a $1,000 reward to the person who finds it.
Duchess "Kiki" Bruner -- a dark grey and white cat who is actually a male -- disappeared Feb. 19 from his home along U.S. Highway 98 between Target and Hurlburt Field's main gate.
Although there have been numerous reports of "Kiki sightings," none have led to the cat's recovery. Owner Rita Bruner continues to search and hope that her cat will be found.
"She's never been gone before," Bruner said. "We slept together every single night. I spoiled her rotten and one night, she didn't come home."
She adopted the cat after seeing a cardboard sign advertising free kittens in the Holt area two years ago.
The cat was not wearing a collar, because it interfered with its ability to successfully hunt mice.
Although a $1,000 reward may sound steep to some, Bruner said she would have offered even more had friends not talked her out of it.
About 45 people have called in response to an ad in the Northwest Florida Daily News and posters that have been put up all over town. One of the calls led to Bruner meeting a cat that could have been Kiki's twin, but wasn't.
"The two ladies that called, they were angels that walk the earth," she said. "I hugged them and told them, 'Thank you anyway.'
"I want her back."
Anyone with information about Kiki can call 243-7836.
