Why do people assume cats are missing?

[Thorilicious]

Disclaimer -I don't have a cat.
My local group had 3 separate posts about different cats. 'Does this cat belong to anyone? It's really friendly...' post picture of healthy looking cat trying to go about it's business, but being bothered by the caterazzi!

I got a message from the local (sensible) cat lady to say someone had rung her to say a skinny black cat was "sauntering" across the zebra crossing
She said "I knew it was yours the minute she said sauntering and zebra crossing..."