Who doesn’t love stories about pets with happy endings? They’re even more interesting when they contain a dose of mystery like the one about a cat named Rayne Beau, who passed through three United States (U.S.) states to return to his owners.
According to media reports, Benny and Susanne Anguiano set out on a camper trip from California to Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming with two cats. But the trip didn’t go as planned. Rayne Beau got scared and ran out of the vehicle, and two months later he was found 1.500 kilometers away.
The Anguianos had planned to stay in Yellowstone for just a few days before returning home. But when Rayne disappeared, they spent a large part of their vacation searching the forest where they last saw him. They tried to call him using toys and treats but without success. Yellowstone National Park spans more than 8.800 square kilometers, and finding a dark grey cat among all those rocks, trees, and predators was almost impossible.
In the end, they had to make the painful decision to return home without him. Two months later, they received unexpected news that left them speechless.
“His paws were completely wounded”
You may have heard of cats that disappear and are then found a few kilometers away after several weeks, but Rayne Beau disappeared hundreds of kilometers away, in a completely unfamiliar environment. Still, Susanne didn’t lose hope. In the meantime, a woman spotted the cat on a street in northern California, about 320 kilometers from their home in Salinas. She took him to the SPCA shelter in Roseville to check if he had a microchip, and he did.
Soon after, the Anguianos received a notification via the Pet Watch service that Rayne Beau had been found. The next day, they went to get him. It’s still unknown how the cat managed to cross 1.500 kilometers in just two months, but they believe he traveled most of the way on foot.
“His paws were completely wounded,” Susanne said, and added: “He lost 40% of his body weight, and the protein levels in his blood were extremely low due to malnutrition.”
They believe he was trying to return home.
Rayne Beau has fully recovered and now wears an AirTag and GPS tracker. However, despite that, the Anguianos have decided that they will no longer take the cats on trips.
How to increase the chances of finding a lost cat
When you bring a cat home, it’s important to immediately take a few steps to prepare for a possible separation. First, have a microchip implanted, and don’t forget to register it. Although many think of this right before traveling, it’s never too early. The procedure is quick and painless.
If you’ve ever wondered whether your cat should wear a collar, the answer is yes. Get a safety collar with your contact information or attach an AirTag, and have the cat wear it at all times, at least during travel. If your cat gets lost, whether at home or on a trip, a microchip and collar can greatly increase the chances of finding her.
