A cat’s journey home is never quite straightforward, but for one California couple, it turned into a 900-mile mystery. Benny and Susanne Anguiano, from Salinas, California, couldn’t have imagined they’d see their beloved house cat Rayne Beau again after he disappeared during their camping trip to Yellowstone National Park.
It all started in June when Rayne Beau, spooked by the unfamiliar wilderness, darted into the dense forest, leaving his owners in a panic. Despite their desperate search efforts — leaving his favorite treats and toys out and calling for him for hours — the couple was forced to leave the park without their furry companion.
That was the hardest day,” Susanne said. “I felt like I was abandoning him.”
As they drove away, something caught their eye: a double rainbow stretched across the sky. To Susanne, it wasn’t just a beautiful sight; it felt like a sign of hope, a promise that they hadn’t seen the last of Rayne Beau, was named for that lovely bright arch through the sky.
Rayne Beau on the left, before his Yellowstone adventure; and right, after making it home, two months after going missing. Photo by KSBW
Two months passed, and just when they had begun to lose hope, a miracle happened. The Anguianos received an unexpected message from PetWatch, the service they had registered Rayne Beau’s microchip with. The message revealed that their cat had been found — but not anywhere near Yellowstone. Instead, Rayne Beau had made his way to a shelter in Roseville, Calif., more than 800 miles from where he’d first gone missing.
A kind-hearted woman in Roseville had spotted the cat wandering the streets and, realizing he must be someone’s pet, took him to a local shelter. When the Anguianos heard the news, they were overjoyed. The journey had clearly taken its toll on their pet, though. Rayne Beau, who had weighed 14 pounds before the trip, had dropped to just 8 pounds by the time he was found.
He was really depleted,” Susanne said. “He probably didn’t have a lot of energy to go much further.”
The couple was finally reunited with their courageous cat, who, after weeks of uncertainty, was back home with his cat sibling and family. These days, Rayne Beau is getting plenty of rest, regaining his strength, and no doubt enjoying his well-earned naps.
Susanne Anguianos holds Rayne Beau. Photo by KSBW
The Anguianos remain curious about how their beloved pet managed to cover such a vast distance. “I hope someone will hear our story and maybe recognize him,” Benny said, “whether they saw him along the way or even helped him.”
Now, with a new global tracker for Rayne Beau, the Anguianos are making sure they’re prepared for any future adventures. And, of course, they’re reminding all pet owners to make sure their furry friends are microchipped. “Microchipping made all the difference for us,” Susanne said. “We would have never gotten him back without it.”
