WELLINGTON, New Zealand — An eight-year-old Maine coon cat named Mittens found herself on quite an unexpected adventure this month, becoming an unintentional globetrotter when her travel cage was accidentally overlooked in a cargo hold, leading to three plane trips in just one day between New Zealand and Australia.
Mittens was scheduled for a one-way flight alongside her family from Christchurch, New Zealand, to their new residence in Melbourne, Australia, on January 13. However, as her owner, Margo Neas, waited for her furry friend to be unloaded from the aircraft’s hold, she soon realized that three hours had passed without any sign of Mittens.
It was then that the ground staff informed Neas that the plane had returned to New Zealand—inadvertently carrying Mittens back with it. The flight took approximately 7.5 hours, a significant time for a cat to be left unattended.
Neas expressed her disbelief over the situation. “I asked how this could happen, and it was just overwhelming,” she recounted.
According to Neas, the pilot of the Air New Zealand flight was made aware of the unexpected feline passenger mid-flight, prompting them to adjust the temperature in the cargo area to ensure Mittens stayed comfortable during her unplanned journey. An unfortunate oversight occurred when a stowed wheelchair blocked the view of Mittens’ cage from the baggage handlers.
“This was not the ideal start to our new life in Melbourne since we were missing a part of our family,” Neas reflected on the situation.
Fortunately, the story ended on a positive note. The pet relocation company Neas had hired was ready to assist and greeted Mittens upon her return to Christchurch. They made sure she boarded another flight, this time exclusively directed to Melbourne.
While Mittens did lose some weight during her travels, she emerged otherwise unharmed.
“She basically jumped into my arms and just nestled as close as possible, giving me the most heartwarming cuddles,” Neas shared her relief upon reuniting with Mittens. “It was truly a relief to have her back.”
Air New Zealand committed to refunding all of Mittens’ travel expenses and issued an apology for the distress caused to Neas and her family. A spokesperson, Alisha Armstrong, mentioned efforts to work closely with their ground team in Melbourne to prevent similar incidents in the future.
In the aftermath of her extraordinary journey, Mittens, who typically isn’t known for being particularly affectionate, has become incredibly cuddly and attentive. Neas added, “She’s enjoying as much affection as she can get, and we’re just so happy to have her back with us.”
