Missing House Cat Makes Incredible Trek from Yellowstone to California
Source: Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times
In early June, Susanne and her spouse, Benjamin, visited Yellowstone National Park where their small, brownish seal point Siamese cat, Rayne Beau had disappeared into that vast forest after escaping from their truck.
For five days, they tirelessly searched the area. They tried using cat food and toys to lure him back, but it would take weeks before they reunited with their beloved pet. By some miracle, this tearful reunion occurred hundreds of miles away in California.
Rayne Beau. Photo Courtesy of Los Angeles Times (Alexandra Betts)
They never would have imagined that in 60 days, their cat would travel over 800 miles from Yellowstone to California.
While attempting to move her cat from the truck to the carrier, Rayne darted under a log, and when she tried to grab him, he ran deeper into the woods, eventually disappearing from sight. The next day, they reported their missing cat to the ranger’s office and provided a photo. They spent days searching the forest, calling for him, and trying to entice him with tuna and toys late into the night, with no luck. It eventually came time where they had to go back home.
Fast forward to July 31st, Alexandra Betts arrived at her job at Sutter Roseville Medical Center in Roseville, California, on a hot day with triple-digit temperatures. She heard yowling from some bushes. Investigating, she found a cat near a storm drain.
Betts stayed for a few minutes before going inside. Her coworkers mentioned the cat had been around for days. Consulting her sister, a former animal shelter worker, she learned that yowling cats were usually in distress, heat, or lost. She realized it was a house cat when it recognized the sound of a can opener, but the heat was affecting it. Taking it home the following day, she uploaded photos to the Roseville Lost and Found Pets Facebook page. The cat stayed with the family until Saturday, cozying up and playing.
On August 3rd, she took the cat to the Placer Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Roseville, updating her Facebook post about the cat's location.
Leilani Fratis, Placer SPCA's chief executive, stated the cat was in good condition when it arrived. Staff promptly scanned for a microchip, finding one.
Benjamin and Susanne Anguiano. Photo Courtesy of Los Angeles Times (Benjamin and Susanne Anguiano)
"It’s amazing. We get over 1,000 cats, but only 23 are reunited with their owners, and a few are microchipped," she mentioned. "Microchipping is crucial for cats," she added, "since keeping a collar on them is tough,” Fratis said.
Photo Courtesy of Los Angeles Times.
Through community and having their pet microchipped, Rayne Beau was returned to his family - over four hours away from where he was found! We hope this story will encourage more pet parents to microchip their pets - especially their cats! Your cat may not be exploring the hills of Yellowstone, but this is the one sure way to get them back to you on the off chance that they slip away. And if you find a lost pet, engage with your community. This is often one of the most efficient ways to reconnect lost pets to their owners. Hanging signs, posting in neighborhood groups and calling local shelters are all easy ways to spread the word.
We hope this story inspired you to microchip your pets. Contact us if you have any questions or would like to schedule a visit. We’re always here for you and your pets!
Sincerelty,
The BLVD Team