Another cat went missing at an airport last month; this time the story has a happy ending.
A kitten named Ando panicked and escaped into Philadelphia International Airport when TSA staff made him get out of his carrier during security check. Thankfully, he was found within a day or two and is flying home tonight.
One August 20 Maya Joslow was traveling back home to Oregon from Philadelphia when her new 10 month old kitten escaped and ran off. Ando jumped out of Maya’s arms when his carrier was being checked in the open screening area, then he ran down an escalator. He was discovered hiding below, but disappeared again before his carrier could brought down to secure him.
Maya was not happy with her experience with some of the TSA personnel, and was concerned for the missing cat.
WTXF FOX 29 spoke with Maya via Skype from her home in Portland, Oregon, when she said: “Very angry. Felt like I wanted to explode,” due to the lack of immediate help from a TSA agent when Ando took off. “If she couldn’t keep her post for her to get me immediate assistance, call a manager, put an announcement out over intercom.”
“I’ve had a pit in my stomach. I keep replaying the scenario over and over again. What if I had thought to have a harness.”
Maya acknowledged that the airport staff helped her search and posted a message on the visual paging system, alerting passengers to be on the lookout for the missing cat.
Maya flew home but her aunt, Sharon Wohlnuth, took over the search at the airport, passing out flyers and talking to passengers about the missing cat.
The core search team group of FOJs (Friends of Jack), from the Facebook page Jack The Cat is Lost in AA Baggage at JFK, learned about the missing cat and stepped in to share their expertise and help with the search.
Ando went missing just a few days before the second anniversary of Jack’s disappearance at JFK Airport. Fortunately, Ando’s story ended much differently from Jack’s. Jack was not found until he fell through ceiling tiles, near death from starvation. Despite medical intervention, he died shortly afterward.
A passenger saw Ando and recognized him and his story from the flyers being distributed by Sharon Wohlnuth.
Maya Joslow wrote at Reddit, where she received advice and support:
“The TSA Scared My Kitten Away! Help!”
“I was flying home [from Philadelphia to Oregon] yesterday with a new, 10 month old kitten my brother gave me at my family reunion. At the security check, I was instructed to take the kitten out of his carrier so they could x-ray it. The people at security neglected to inform me of my option to take the cat out in an enclosed space (I found out that this was an option afterwards). I passed with him through the scanner, and then the woman who was doing my security check wanted to swab my hands for explosives with the cat in my arms. I asked her to get the carrier first, and she slowly ambled over to retrieve it, at which point the cat bolted. It took hours to get any help, and the woman who was doing my security check did nothing to assist me. He is lost in Philadelphia and possibly still at the airport. He has all his shots and is microchipped. I’m heartbroken and feel so badly for the little guy. He is about 8 lbs, blue-gray with black spots and stripes, and has green eyes. He is no longer wearing his collar. Please PM me if you see him or have any information that might help. I’ve filed a complaint with the TSA.
“His name is Ando, but he doesn’t really respond to it yet. He does recognize it, though.”
The following day, Maya gave this update at Reddit:
“THEY FOUND HIM! He was hiding in a tiny hole in the wall in the airport bathroom. Somebody recognized him from the posters my aunt distributed. He’s had quite an adventure, but he’s safe and sound.
“I’m so happy he’s coming home.”