Seattle cat who fled as owners moved gets plane ride, reunion

SEATTLE – A Seattle cat that ran off as his family prepared to move has been reunited with his people — thanks to a neighbour, a shelter and an airline employee who volunteered to transport him by air.

Alaska Airlines spokeswoman Bobbie Egan says Itty Bitty Kitty fled as his owners prepared to move to Ohio. Owner Beth Lewis postponed her trip for two weeks but finally had to leave.

By the time a neighbour found the orange and white tabby and took him to a shelter called Kitty Harbor, the 14-pound feline weighed only 5 pounds, had a throat gash and was missing teeth. Lewis was thrilled, but couldn’t drive or fly back to Seattle. And Kitty couldn’t fly as cargo, due to his health.

The shelter says 10 people who read about the cat’s plight on Facebook volunteered to help. Alaska Airlines employee Robin Yong was able to do it quickly. Earlier this month, she took a red-eye flight to Chicago, then drove 2 1/2 hours to Lafayette, Indiana. Beth Lewis drove two hours from Dayton, Ohio, for the transfer.

Lewis says her pet is doing well — and she adds, “I don’t even let him see the door!”