A cat that had escaped from her owner at LaGuardia Airport’s (LGA) TSA checkpoint was returned to the distressed traveler after she (the cat, not the cat mom) spent 11 days hiding in the airport’s ceiling.
Taylor Le, a pastry chef, was in the midst of moving from Brooklyn, NY to Orange County, CA. Instead of driving cross country, she booked a flight for herself and her 6-year-old cat, Muji, for Christmas Eve.
When she got to the TSA security checkpoint, Le said TSA agents made her remove Muji from her carrier, even though she said that the cat would probably get spooked and run away if she did. Le said that’s exactly what happened; Muji panicked and, with her owner and airport staff in hot pursuit, the feline eventually wound up in a mechanical room, where she climbed a series of platforms to a ceiling enclosure and disappeared inside.
Airport staff set up some tuna-laden traps for Muji but they didn’t work. So Le, who had changed her flight to the following day with the hopes of getting Muji back by then, flew to California since she had no place to stay or go in NY anymore.
The Queens Lost & Found Pets group found out about Muji’s escape from a post Le wrote on Facebook:
With that, pet-flying advocacy group Where Is Jack? Inc. became involved and they helped Le arrange for a tracking dog to visit the airport.
Said dog, Abby the golden retriever indicated Muji was indeed still in the ceiling, so Le flew back to New York and again tried to lure Muji out of the ceiling, but the cat wouldn’t come out.
Finally, 11 days after Muji had escaped from the TSA checkpoint, Le got word that she had emerged and been safely captured in a trap.
Airport workers brought Muji to an animal hospital on Long Island, and the two were shortly reunited. They flew back to California a few days later, whereupon Le had a TSA harness for Muji and insisted on having a private screening.
I just love happy endings š
Feature Photo: Facebook
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This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary
