A Maine Coon named Mittens accidentally became a frequent flyer after the cat’s cage was overlooked in the plane’s cargo hold, traveling between Australia and New Zealand three times over the course of a day.
Eight-year-old Mittens was held in the cargo hold of the plane on January 13 as her family flew overhead, en route from Christchurch, New Zealand, to their new home in Melbourne, Australia.
When it landed on Australian soil, owner Margo Ness told the Associated Press I waited for three hours to unload her cat from the flight’s cargo area but the gloves never showed up.
In this photo submitted by Margo Ness, her cat Mittens plays with a Donald Trump toy in Melbourne, Australia, on January 7, 2019.
Margo Ness via AP
Ground staff eventually showed up and delivered some devastating news – Mittens was on her way back to her home country, still in the cargo hold, making the 7.5-hour flight again.
“I said how could this happen? How could this happen? Oh my God,” Ness told the New Zealand Herald, adding that she had been told The glove box was covered with a stowed wheelchairWhich means Air New Zealand baggage handlers missed it.
When Mittens returned to New Zealand, the pet transport company Neas used to book the initial travel helped the cat get back on a flight to Melbourne. The pilot was alerted to the cat’s presence, and the heat was turned on in the cargo hold to keep Mittens comfortable on her third flight in 24 hours.
Get daily national news
Get the day’s top political, economic and current affairs news, headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.
“It’s basically just that She ran into my arms “I just cuddled up here and did the biggest cuddle ever,” Ness told The Associated Press of the cat’s return.
“It was just a relief,” she added.
In this photo submitted by Margo Ness, her son Jackson Brough carries their cat, Mittens, in a cat carrier at Melbourne Airport on January 14, 2025.
Margo Ness via AP
Air New Zealand has reimbursed Neas for all of Mittens’ travel expenses and has apologized to her.
“He acknowledged my concerns and stated that if it was his family pet, He will feel the same wayNess told the New Zealand Herald.
“Although they hire third parties to manage the transport of cargo, Air NZ is ultimately responsible and must give the same care and priority to all passengers – both human and furry.”
&Copy 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
