Move over, Houdini — there’s a new escape artist in town, and her latest trick involves a couch, a cross-country journey, and defying medical logic.
When Sunny-Loo, a timid orange tabby, vanished during her family’s move from Washington to Colorado, her humans feared the worst. Three weeks later, they discovered her secret hideout: a sofa that had logged more miles than a frequent flyer.
Sunny-Loo the cat. Photo by KKTV
The Hanson family’s saga began as they prepared to relocate for dad Andy’s new job. “Poor Sunny, she got scared, and in the past when she’s scared, she runs and hides,” Andy said. True to form, the cat disappeared as movers arrived. “We bought a little carrier for her so she can come on the airplane with us and everything … and then we didn’t know where she was, and we thought, ‘Oh my gosh,’” he said.
For 12-year-old Hannah, whose bond with Sunny-Loo runs deep, the loss was crushing. “It was hard on my heart, and I was really sad,” she said. The cat, her emotional support companion, typically soothes her anxiety. “She’s a big support for Hannah and her autism when she has anxiety,” Andy said.
This is a cat that spends most nights on somebody’s pillow, usually Hannah’s pillow when she’s feeling sad, sick, or anxious. This kitty is there.
After days of searching, the Hansons reluctantly flew to Colorado, leaving loved ones to continue looking through their Washington home. Weeks passed with no sign of Sunny-Loo — until their belongings finally arrived. “So the moving truck came, and they unloaded our stuff. … They brought in our Hide-a-Bed sofa, and we put it down and started to unwrap it,” Andy said. Moments later, a faint sound stunned them: “We heard a meow!” Hannah said.
The Hanson girls are thrilled to have their kitty Sunny-Loo back. Photo by KKTV
Buried inside the couch, the family found a frail but alive Sunny-Loo, who’d endured a 1,050-mile odyssey. “Three weeks and 1,050 miles of road. In fact, it’s even more than that because she went from Walla Walla to Seattle down to Eugene, Oregon, and back up to Seattle and then finally down here,” Andy said. Veterinarian Dr. Erin Dixon, who treated the emaciated cat, said she has no idea how she survived. “Medically, I don’t have an answer for how this cat survived that ordeal. It’s really remarkable. … She is a miracle cat,” Dixon said.
For Hannah, the reunion was pure joy. “It was unbelievable. It was like a dream come true,” she said. Andy, still processing the whirlwind, added, “I thought this is crazy. It’s been three weeks.” And yes, Sunny-Loo immediately took back her spot on Hannah’s pillow.
