Cat accidentally mailed to California in returned package after stowing away

A family in the US has been reunited with their pet cat, Galeana, after she was accidentally mailed hundreds of miles to California with a package return. Galeana disappeared from her home in Utah earlier this month, sparking widespread searches for the missing feline.

The adventurous cat was rescued by an Amazon worker nearly a week after jumping into one of the family’s packages undetected. Despite having no food or water for days, Galeana was in good health when she was found.

“Galeana loves boxes, it’s just part of her personality,” said Carrie Clark, the cat’s owner, explaining how her pet ended up so far from home. The cat was eventually rescued from the box, which also contained pairs of steel-toed work boots, by an Amazon worker who took her to the vet.

After scanning Galeana’s microchip, Ms. Clark’s contact details appeared, leading to the family’s reunion with their beloved pet. Ms. Clark described the experience as “the most amazing, insane news in the entire world” and flew over 1,000 miles to California to retrieve Galeana.

The cat’s lucky escape was attributed to an open seam in the box, providing air to breathe, and favorable weather conditions. Ms. Clark emphasized the importance of microchipping pets and urged others to “triple check” their Amazon boxes to avoid similar incidents. The BBC has reached out to Amazon for comment on the unusual delivery mishap.