Was an Italian influencer’s cat sacrificed by a satanic cult? Prominent photographer hires an animal detective and offers a reward of 5,000 euros to track down the missing Persian named Bartolo – an animal rights group suspects a sinister reason for the disappearance

An Italian photographer has hired a pet detective and offered a €5,000 reward to track down her missing Persian cat – but an animal rights group suspects the cat may have fallen victim to a sinister satanic victim.

Prominent fashion photographer Nima Benati, now a model and influencer herself, has photographed the covers of Vogue and Vanity Fair and was even featured in Forbes 30 under 30 Italia 2019.

And often stuck by Nima’s side is her most prized photo accessory, her white, fluffy Persian cat named Bartolo – which has appeared in many of her campaigns.

But Nima’s beloved pet, said to be “like a son” to her, has tragically become one of 30 cats reported missing in the Italian Apennines last month.

Animal detective Said Beid, who was tasked with tracking down Bartolo, said there were many reasons for the cats’ disappearance – such as they got lost while looking for a family, were eaten by wild animals or were stolen by thieves wanted to breed them for profit.

However, an animal rights group believes the missing cats may have been kidnapped and sacrificed by a satanic cult.

An Italian photographer has hired a pet detective and offered a €5,000 reward to track down her missing Persian cat (pictured together).

Celebrity fashion photographer Nima Benati (pictured with cat Bartolo) has photographed the covers of Vogue and Vanity Fair and was even featured in Forbes 30 under 30 Italia 2019

At Nima’s side is often her most valuable photo accessory, her white, fluffy Persian cat named Bartolo, who appears in many of her campaigns

Five-year-old Bartolo went missing on August 9 – after being left with Nima’s family in Monghidoro, a town near Bologna, while the influencer went on holiday to Costa Rica.

Nima’s sister Shasa told us The times that Bartolo always had a good time when he stayed with the family in Bologna and that in this house he had “freedom in the mountains”.

She said he would often disappear for two days and come back “drenched after a storm with a mouse in his mouth.”

But this time Bartolo did not return and has still not been found – despite hundreds of reported sightings.

Nima got Bartolo from a breeder in Naples. She never had him microchipped.

Mr Beid said cats often disappear in the summer when their families leave them to go on holiday or leave them with family or friends in a new environment.

Nima’s beloved pet, who was said to be “like a son” to her, tragically became one of 30 cats reported missing in the Apennines last month

Five-year-old Bartolo went missing on August 9 – after being left with Nima’s family in Monghidoro, a town near Bologna, while the influencer went on holiday to Costa Rica

Nima’s sister Shasa told the Times that Bartolo was always well off when he was left with the family in Bologna (the picture shows an earlier time when Bartolo was there) and that he was given “free rein in the mountains” when he was left in this house

“Some are stolen by cat thieves who breed them for profit; “Others are eaten by wild animals after they venture out into the open in search of their owners and become lost,” he said.

He went on to say that owners of missing cats would hope that they had just been lost, as “domestic cats can be found weeks after being in the wild.”

The Italian Animal and Environmental Protection Association, which has reported on satanic sects sacrificing black cats on Halloween, says no cat carcasses were found in the area.

The association claims this could indicate that the missing cats in Bologna are being sacrificed by a satanic cult instead.

Nima’s sister said Bartolo (pictured with Nima) would often disappear for two days and come back “drenched after a storm with a mouse in his mouth”.

Nima got Bartolo from a breeder in Naples. She never had him microchipped

“The problem is urgent and alarming, and cat owners are beginning to fear,” it said.

Shasa described Bartolo as like a son to her sister. “She sleeps with her on her pillow and on the sofa,” she said. “She is their shadow.”

She remains confident that her sister Nima’s beloved Bartolo is still alive, adding that the thought of someone harming him “makes me cry.”

Other owners of missing cats in the area have reported discovering their pets’ open collars. The local police should investigate.