Utah Couple Accidentally Sent Their Cat Alongside Their Amazon Return
A Utah couple lost their beloved pet cat named Galena and frantically searched for her everywhere and posted missing cat posters all over their neighborhood and made social media postings asking if anyone had seen her.
None of these tactics worked for finding their missing kitty. The cat was actually in California, because it was accidentally returned with an Amazon package.
Carrie Clark said that the indoor-only cat disappeared on April 10. The family searched everywhere for her and then on on April 17, Clark received a text from a vet that Galena’s microchip had been scanned that afternoon. And this was from a vet in California.
Related: Lost Long Island Cat Returns Home in Hilarious and Unexpected Way
KSLTV5 reports, "The vet told Clark she had her beloved cat, Galena, who was found inside of an Amazon box alongside five pairs of work boots.
“I ran to tell my husband that Galena was found and we broke down upon realizing that she must have jumped into an oversized box that we shipped out the previous Wednesday,” Clark said. “The box was a ‘try before you buy,’ and filled with steel-toed work boots.”
This is such a typical cat thing to do because any cat owner knows that all boxes belong to cats.
An Amazon employee named Brandy rescued the cat from the box when she found it in the California warehouse. She took care of the cat before dropping Galena off at the vet the following day. The poor cat was in the box for six days with no food or water!
Clark and her husband booked a flight for the next day to reunite with Galena, who was skinnier and suffered some mild dehydration, but her blood work was completely normal and she was completely unharmed. By some miracle, the box of work boots had a small slit in the side which allowed the kitty to breathe.
Not only was the fact this cat was found pretty remarkable, but it's also remarkable this couple actually returned an item to Amazon instead of being like me, and leaving the item in a box in my garage until the return window expires because I'm too lazy to go to the post office.
Thank goodness Galena was microchipped and we are so happy she is home safe and sound!
What To Do If You Lose Your Cat
Losing your cat can be such a scary experience, and according to the ASPCA, 85 percent of lost dogs and cats are eventually recovered, but cat guardians were less likely to find their cat – only 74 percent of lost cats were recovered.
This is why one very important thing you can do is have your cat microchipped like in the above story, so that if they are lost and they end brought to a vet it can be determined that you are the actual owner. Make sure you update the microchip information, there are several national and international databases that maintain microchip records, such as the American Animal Hospital Association, HomeAgain, and PetLink. Make sure your cat always wears a collar with your name and contact information on it. It's also a good idea to take current photographs of your cat in case they do go missing, and photographs of you with your cat in case you need further proof of ownership.
If your cat has a keen nose, they might be able to sniff their way back to you. Take something that smells like you, such as a worn shirt, a blanket, a toy, or a crate. Leave the items where you last saw your cat. Some cat owners also suggest leaving their litter box in your yard on on your stoop because your cat will be able to recognize their scent and find their way home. Other people say that this only will attract other cats to your cat's litter box, and may hinder your own cat from returning home.
Contact friends and family immediately, the non-emergency number of your local police department, as well as your veterinarian, your local Humane Society and Animal Shelters, and make postings on social media lost and found groups for your area.
Create flyers with your contact information plus a current photo of your pet and distribute them to local businesses and neighbors.
Hopefully your cat will be at home with you safe and sound in no time!
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