A distraught couple in Te Puna have offered a staggering $5000 reward in a desperate attempt to get their beloved family cat back, alive and well.

Billie is a two-year-old Snow Bengal and went missing in November from their rural property. It's a rare and sought-after breed and kittens can cost between $1500 and $3000.

'Bengals are a high energy breed, but Billie is a real home body,” says owner Amber Gosbee.

'We thought it was out of character when he didn't come home for dinner one Sunday and two days later we started getting really worried.”

Amber and her partner checked through their own orchard and canvassed neighbours.

They also did a leaflet drop, posted on social media and registered Billie as missing.

'We were renovating at the time with tradies coming and going so we thought he may have just been scared,” says Amber.

'We were hoping he would just come home but it's been four months, now, and there's been no sighting of him.”

Amber now suspects he may have been stolen.

'He's a very distinctive pale colour with ginger and brown tones, strong markings and big blue eyes,” she says.

'That's very unusual colouring.”

Billie is microchipped so if anyone takes him to a vet, someone will notice that he's listed as missing.

'We've had Billie since he was just 16 weeks old. He's such a cuddle bunny and we love him very much,” says Amber.

'We desperately want Billie back and we're willing to pay the reward if someone turns him in.”

Anyone with information about Billie is asked to contact this number: 0210601162