Current:Home > ContactA cat went missing in Wyoming. 2 months later, he was found in his home state, California. -GrowthInsight
A cat went missing in Wyoming. 2 months later, he was found in his home state, California.
Johnathan Walker View
Date:2025-04-11 00:46:38
This story was updated to add a photo.
The love between a pet and its owner knows no bounds nor state lines.
After going missing in Yellowstone National Park, a two-year-old cat traveled more than 800 miles toward its California home.
Siamese cat Rayne Beau, pronounced "rainbow," ran off into the trees during a trip to the Wyoming park in June, according his owners Benny and Susanne Anguiano. The couple, based out of Salinas in Monterey County, thought they had seen the last of their beloved pet.
However, two months later, they received a voicemail from an animal shelter in Roseville, about a 30 minutes northeast of Sacramento, informing them that Rayne Beau was ready for pick up.
The pair's five day trip at Yellowstone took a downturn after several days spent scouring the park, with Benny roaming the forest wearing bear repellant. Their relentless search ended June 8 when their park reservation ended, and the couple returned home devastated. Benny told Susanne they could not stay at the park forever, and park rangers said they would inform them if Rayne Beau was spotted.
"I understood that, but I just made him stay until the very last minute, that's for sure. And even as we were driving out, I had my window down. I'm still calling him and we're still scanning the road. It was pretty traumatic," Susanne told USA TODAY Thursday.
Rayne Beau's twin cat, Starr Jasmine, called out for her brother from a carrier. Susanne said she knew her twin was gone. The ride home was sorrowful for her as the cat grappled with being apart from her twin for the first time ever.
Couple initially skeptical of shelter's phone call
The Anguianos held onto hope despite mounting despair. Park officials said some pets are found months later, Benny said. As they crossed the state line into Idaho, the couple saw a double rainbow, assuring Susanne that Rayne Beau "is being taken care of."
Yet, the pair found themselves in complete disbelief when a voicemail Aug. 3 from the Placer SPCA shelter in Roseville said that their cat had been found. Skeptical of a potential scam, Susanne said it wasn't until her husband and daughter were also contacted that they began taking the message seriously.
"I said, 'take a picture. I want to make sure I don't drive three-and-a-half hours and it's not my cat,'" Benny said. "So they did. About 20 minutes later, they sent a picture and yep, it was him."
The two reserved their emotions until they could see the cat, afraid of false hope. But the moment they laid eyes on Rayne Beau, they knew they had been reunited.
"When we for sure knew, we were in tears. We were all hugging and crying," Susanne said.
Rayne Beau and Starr Jasmine are back to sleeping, playing and jumping together after a brutal period apart. The couple now has three cats, including new addition Maxx, who they adopted as a companion for Starr while she was alone.
Cat lost nearly half his bodyweight while missing
While it's unclear how Rayne Beau made his way from Wyoming to California, his appearance shows the journey did not come without struggles. Susanne said his paws were calloused, dry and cracked.
Rayne Beau weighed between 7 and 8 pounds, down from his initial 13 pound weight, according to Susanne. Veterinarians said bloodwork showed low protein levels from inadequate nutrition, leading the family to believe no one cared for him during those 60 days.
"Poor thing looked like he was six months old, nine months old. He was really little, all skin and bones. He had lost half his body weight," Benny said. "He was in starvation mode. So now he's worked himself out of that."
Susanne said both Rayne Beau and Starr were microchipped as required by the local rescue shelter from where they had adopted the cats. However, she said she was grateful Starr wasn't the one who ran off, as her microchip had shortly fallen out when she was spayed as a kitten, according to a local shelter that performed procedure.
She urges all dog and cat owners to not only microchip their pets, but register their owners name and contact information because life can be unpredictable.
"If you love your pet you will," Susanne said. "You will do that if you ever want to see them again, because anything can happen. As careful as you can be, animals are animals and something can happen like with us, and they get away."
veryGood! (9)
Related
- What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey?
- Imanaga, 2 relievers combine for no-hitter, lead Cubs over Pirates 12-0
- Police exchange fire and shoot an armed man near a museum and the Israeli Consulate in Munich
- Biden promotes administration’s rural electrification funding in Wisconsin
- Dick Vitale announces he is cancer free: 'Santa Claus came early'
- Man charged in death of dog breeder claims victim was killed over drug cartel
- Ravens not running from emotions in charged rematch with Chiefs
- 'King of the neighborhood:' Watch as massive alligator crosses road in North Carolina town
- As Trump Enters Office, a Ripe Oil and Gas Target Appears: An Alabama National Forest
- Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler to face Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka in TV battle
Ranking
- Federal Spending Freeze Could Have Widespread Impact on Environment, Emergency Management
- Karolina Muchova returns to US Open semifinals for second straight year by beating Haddad Maia
- Will Taylor Swift attend the Chiefs game Thursday against the Ravens? What we know
- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sues Bexar County over voter registration outreach effort
- NHL in ASL returns, delivering American Sign Language analysis for Deaf community at Winter Classic
- NFL schedule today: Everything to know about Ravens vs. Chiefs on Thursday
- Nvidia, chip stocks waver after previous day's sell-off
- Taraji P. Henson Debuts Orange Hair Transformation With Risqué Red Carpet Look
Recommendation
The FTC says 'gamified' online job scams by WhatsApp and text on the rise. What to know.
GoFundMe account created to benefit widow, unborn child of Matthew Gaudreau
There's no SSI check scheduled for this month: Don't worry, it all comes down to the calendar
Damar Hamlin is a Bills starter, feels like himself again 20 months after cardiac arrest
2 killed, 3 injured in shooting at makeshift club in Houston
John Stamos Reveals Why He Was Kicked Out of a Scientology Church
Damar Hamlin is a Bills starter, feels like himself again 20 months after cardiac arrest
USA TODAY's NFL Survivor Pool is back: What you need to know to win $5K cash