And the Dutch-born multi-millionaire is sparing no expense in getting Sylvester back.

The cat's face has appeared all week in television and newspaper advertisements, along with the plea: "Please help find our cat Sylvester.'' Yesterday, Mr. Deuss denied reports he had offered a $10,000 reward for Sylvester's return. But he would not deny another report that he had enlisted the help of a psychic.

"We have asked different people to come in and assist with the search,'' Mr.

Deuss told The Royal Gazette . "I have not confirmed to you at all that psychics have been asked to help.

"Different people have been asked to help, and there have been no results from that.'' He would not specify the size of the reward.

It is believed Sylvester was hit by a car on Harrington Sound Road on July 18, near Deep Water, Mr. Deuss' luxury home in Smith's Parish.

"He is frightened, probably injured, and is hiding or lost,'' a large newspaper advertisement said. "A reward is offered for information leading to his return.'' Large numbers of people have responded to the plea, scouring the area near the Harrington Sound Post Office and beyond.

Sylvester, who belongs to Mr. Deuss' fiancee, "looks like a Siamese cat,'' he said. He has light brown, long hair with dark brown legs and head, and clear blue eyes.

Mr. Deuss said the cat was a stray and not a rare breed. The family has had Sylvester since last December, he said.

Mr. Deuss, 50, controls a string of companies, most notably Transworld Oil, based in Flatts.

He made headlines in 1986 when he confirmed his companies were supplying crude oil to South Africa. He has been involved in a flurry of activity in the last 18 months, including involvement in the world's richest oil deal between Chevron and the former Soviet republic of Azerbaijan.

But yesterday, his concerns were closer to home. "It's our cat, so we'd like to find it,'' he said.