In the recent news from Utah, a small cat found itself in an unexpected journey after hiding in a cardboard box and unknowingly being shipped miles away from home. Fortunately, this adventurous feline, named Galeana, was rescued after enduring a few days of hunger.
According to reports from the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Galeana was discovered in a return package belonging to Amazon last month, and the package was mistakenly sent to California by the unknowing owner.
Approximately a week later, an Amazon employee found Galeana in the cardboard box and promptly took her to a veterinary clinic for examination. Despite not having food or water for those days, Galeana was in good health. The box she was hiding in had ventilation holes, ensuring she wasn’t suffocated.
Scanning the microchip on Galeana, the veterinarian was able to contact her owner, Carrie Clark. Clark had been distressed over Galeana’s disappearance, searching for her desperately for several days. She described the veterinarian’s notification as “the most surprising and crazy news in the world.”
Initially skeptical, Clark told KSL television that she thought it was a prank. She shared, “Galeana has always had a thing for boxes; it’s part of her personality.”
To reunite with Galeana, Carrie Clark and her husband flew to California and were finally able to embrace their beloved cat once again.
Clark expressed, “It was an amazing reunion! When I held Galeana in my arms again, she immediately stopped shaking and relaxed.”
Clark emphasized the distress of not knowing what had happened to Galeana and urged pet owners to microchip their pets and double-check before mailing out cardboard boxes.
Previous reports have highlighted that for cats, a simple cardboard box often trumps all toys because of their instinctual attraction to small, confined spaces.
According to Stephen Zawistowski, a scientific advisor at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), cats are creatures that love to hide, and boxes and containers provide them with a safe and secure environment.
When cats hide in boxes, they feel protected from potential ambushes from behind or the sides, with a clear view of anything approaching. This provides them with a secure and comfortable sleeping spot, crucial for animals that can sleep up to 20 hours a day. Such environments play a vital role in their well-being.