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A Maine Coon named Mittens became a casualty frequent flyer after the cat’s cage was overlooked in an airplane cargo space, and she traveled between Australia and New Zealand three times in the course of a day.
Eight-year-old Mittens was booked into the cargo hold of a plane on January 13 as her family flew overhead, making their way from Christchurch, New Zealand, to their new home in Melbourne, Australia.
Owner Margo Neas told The Associated Press that when she touched down on Aussie soil, she waited for three hours for her cat to unload from the cargo area of the flight, but Mittens never appeared.
In this photo provided by Margo Neas, her cat, Mittens, plays with a Donald Trump toy in Melbourne, Australia, on January 7, 2019.
Margo Neas via AP
Ground crews finally showed up and delivered some distressing news – Mittens was on its way back to her country of origin, still in the cargo hold, making the 7.5 hour journey again.
“I said, how can this happen? How can this happen? Oh my God,” Neas told The New Zealand Herald, adding that she was told The glove box was covered by a stored wheelchairmeans the Air New Zealand baggage handlers had missed her.
When Mittens returned to New Zealand, pet moving company Neas helped book the first trip, getting the cat back on a flight to Melbourne. The pilot was alerted to the presence of the now-jet-setting cat, and the heat in the cargo hold was turned on to keep Mittens comfortable on her third flight in 24 hours.
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“They basically just ran into my arms and just snuggled here and just did the biggest cuddles of all time,” Neas told The Associated Press of the cat’s return.
“It was just such a relief,” she added.
In this photo provided by Margo Neas, her son Jackson Brow holds her cat, Mittens, in a cat carrier at Melbourne Airport on January 14, 2025.
Margo Neas via AP
Air New Zealand reimbursed Neas for all of Mittens’ travel expenses and apologized.
“He acknowledged my concern and mentioned that if it was his pet, he would feel the same“, Neas told The New Zealand Herald.
“Although they hire third parties to manage the removal of cargo, Air NZ is ultimately responsible and must give the same care and priority to all passengers – whether human or furry.”
& copy 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
