A cat went missing in Wyoming. 2 months later, he was found in his home state, California.
This story was updated to include a photo.
The bond between a pet and its owner is powerful, transcending distance across states.
After being lost in Yellowstone National Park, a two-year-old cat traveled over 800 miles back towards its Californian home.
Siamese cat Rayne Beau, pronounced “rainbow,” dashed into the woods during a visit to the Wyoming park in June, according to his owners, Benny and Susanne Anguiano. The couple, who live in Salinas, Monterey County, feared they would never see their cherished cat again.
However, two months later, they were pleasantly surprised to receive a voicemail from an animal shelter in Roseville, about 30 minutes northeast of Sacramento, letting them know that Rayne Beau was ready to be reunited with them.
The couple’s five-day stay in Yellowstone took a turn for the worse as they spent days searching the park, with Benny wandering through the forest armed with bear repellant. Their relentless search ended on June 8 when their reservation expired, leading them to return home heartbroken. Benny expressed to Susanne that they couldn’t remain at the park indefinitely, as park rangers assured them they would alert them if Rayne Beau was found.
“I understood that, but I made him stay until the very last minute,” Susanne recounted. “Even as we drove away, with my window down, I kept calling for him and scanning the road. It was a very traumatic experience,” Susanne told YSL News on Thursday.
Rayne Beau’s twin, Starr Jasmine, called out for her brother from a carrier. Susanne sensed that her twin was truly gone. The journey home was filled with sorrow as Starr adapted to being separated from her brother for the first time.
Couple was initially doubtful about the shelter’s call
Despite their anguish, the Anguianos held onto hope. Benny recalled park officials mentioning that some pets are located months later. As they crossed into Idaho, the couple spotted a double rainbow, prompting Susanne to feel that Rayne Beau “is being looked after.”
Yet the couple was astounded when a voicemail on August 3 from the Placer SPCA in Roseville claimed that their cat had been found. Skeptical about a possible hoax, Susanne explained that it took messages to both her husband and daughter for them to take the call seriously.
“I told them, ‘take a picture. I want to make sure I’m not making a three-and-a-half-hour trip for a cat that isn’t mine,'” Benny said. “They sent a picture about 20 minutes later, and sure enough, it was him.”
The couple kept their emotions in check until they could confirm the cat’s identity, fearful of becoming overly optimistic. But when they finally saw Rayne Beau, they instantly recognized him.
“The moment we were sure, we all burst into tears and hugged each other,” Susanne said.
Rayne Beau and Starr Jasmine have resumed their routine of sleeping, playing, and jumping together after a difficult separation. The couple has now welcomed a third cat, Maxx, whom they adopted as a companion for Starr while she was alone.
Cat lost almost half his weight while absent
It is uncertain how Rayne Beau managed to journey from Wyoming to California, but his appearance indicated he faced many challenges. Susanne noted his paws were rough, dry, and cracked.
Rayne Beau’s weight decreased from 13 pounds to between 7 and 8 pounds. Veterinarians discovered low protein in his blood tests due to insufficient nutrition, leading the family to conclude that he likely received no care during his 60-day absence.
“Poor thing looked like he was a six to nine-month-old kitten. He had lost half his body weight and was just skin and bones,” Benny said. “He had been in starvation mode, but he has since begun to recover.”
Susanne noted that both Rayne Beau and Starr were microchipped as mandated by the local rescue shelter from where they were adopted. However, she expressed gratitude that Starr didn’t go missing since her microchip had fallen out shortly after her spaying as a kitten, as indicated by the local shelter that performed the procedure.
She encourages all dog and cat owners to not just microchip their pets but also to update their contact details. Unforeseen events can happen in life.
“If you truly care about your pet, you’ll do this,” Susanne stated. “You’ll ensure that, in case they go missing, there’s a way to find them. No matter how cautious you are, animals can behave unpredictably and may escape.”