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Robert Farmer was convicted of animal cruelty after a spate of distressed neighbours reported their fluffy friends mysteriously disappearing.

Many of his 21 victims turned up in rubbish bins and shoeboxes – and one dead cat had been sexually abused.

Residents tipped off police after seeing CCTV showing Farmer crouching in a driveway before scooping up one elderly tabby and running off with him.

(Image: SAN JOSE POLICE/CBS) (Image: ABC/FACEBOOK)

He was caged after docs considered him a danger to the community who could go after larger animals in the future.

Police found a dead tabby in the 24-year-old's car as they arrested him, CBS reported.

Farmer was caught with a hunting knife and fur-covered gloves inside his fluff-and-blood-spattered motor.

(Image: FACEBOOK/MIRIAM PETROVA)

DNA of Farmer’s was found under the tabby’s claws as well as dilated genitals – shocking evidence the puss had been sexually violated.

Cats began disappearing in September 2015 with one escaped feline treated by a vet for a “bite that was not an animal bite.”

Neighbours in Cambria, San Jose, clubbed together to track down the culprit filmed by Miriam Petrova’s home security camera.

(Image: CBS)

Petrova wept as she told how “our sweet GoGo” would cuddle in bed with her children and mourned the fact that “we didn’t have the chance to say a proper goodbye”.

“It’s still painful to come home knowing GoGo isn’t waiting for us,” she added.

Feline slayer Farmer said it was “so hard to grasp” the fact he did these horrific crimes.

(Image: FACEBOOK)

Defence lawyer Wesley Schroeder read a letter during the trial in which Farmer wrote: “It feels like another man committed these crimes, but I know it was me.

“It’s so hard to grasp I did this.

“I stole a member of their family.

(Image: FACEBOOK)

"The fact that I was out of my mind was no excuse.”

Sadly, Farmer has been diagnosed with an anti-social personality disorder and his potential for recovery from his animal-chasing mindset is “poor”, a court doctor said.

He was sleeping in a car park where homeless people stayed at the time of his arrest in California.

Santa Clara Court decided Farmer will not be required to register as a sex offender after his release.