Lost Cat Found at JFK Airport 2 Months After Going Missing (Cat Fell From a Ceiling Tile in Customs)

NBC11 ^ | Wednesday, Oct 26, 2011

[nickcarraway]

The cat fell from a ceiling tile in the customs room.

A Bay Area cat lost for two months since it went missing from a baggage center at John F. Kennedy Airport has been found safe.

American Airlines reports that the feline, known as Jack the Cat, was found in a customs room and was taken to a veterinarian. A family friend of the owner told NBC that the cat was discovered after it fell from a ceiling tile.

Karen Pascoe was flying with Jack and her other cat, Barry, to San Francisco that week to start a new job in California.

She continued to California, but returned days later to keep looking for Jack. She also hired a pet detective at the time to help, but he was not found. Pascoe now reportedly lives in San Jose, but has traveled back to New York to see her cat.

A Facebook page dedicated to the cat reported Wednesday that owner Pascoe spoke to the vet, who told her that he is being fed through a nasal tube and will need treatment for three to five days.

"There's every reason to believe he's going to be OK, but he definitely needs to get healthier before he can fly home," the update said.

Jack disappeared in the American Airlines baggage center on Aug. 25, just before Hurricane Irene arrived in New York and forced airports to shut down for most of the weekend.

American Airlines said its airport employees "have been focused on the search effort since Jack escaped" and promised to fly the cat out to California to be reunited with his owner.

Two local women who have adopted Jack's cause posted on a Facebook page dedicated to him that they saw him briefly Tuesday night and can report "he looks tired but bright-eyed and dirty."

[algernonpj]

Update on Jack from facebook:

"Surgery [for wound on his leg] went well!!!! Please keep praying for continued upgrades in Jack's condition... will report more as I know more!!!"

THE WORD FROM THE VET: Just talked to Karen... Jack was stable overnight!! They are concerned because his bilirubin counts are a little higher than they would like, and his red blood cell counts are a little lower. They may do a blood transfusion on him today!!

[who knows what evil?]

...so how did Jack get loose in the first place?

[algernonpj]

Jack disappeared on August 25 when Ms Pascoe[Jack's person], was relocating from New York to San Francisco for a new job, taking Jack and his 'brother' Barry along for the ride.

Of the disappearance she said: 'We cleared security and I said goodbye to them as the American Airlines handler was putting the plastic ties around the kennel door.'

After going to get dinner she was called to say Jack was missing in the inbound baggage area.

A Department of Transportation Pet Incident Report released on October 13 revealed exactly how Jack was lost.

Each of Miss Pascoe’s cats had its own kennel, which a clerk stacked one on top of the other.

The top kennel fell and Jack escaped.

The unusual instance of 'lost luggage' had turned into a PR nightmare for AA, who faced an outpouring of anger from pet-lovers and sympathetic campaigners.

Jack before the incident:

[who knows what evil?]

Thanks...my wife was suspicious that someone had opened the door to pet the cat, and ZIP...he was gone.

[Slings and Arrows]

Jack status update at post #41 - thanks algernonpj!

[Biggirl]

Another true cat story with a HAPPY ENDING. :)=^..^=

[Allegra]

Awwwww....so glad he’s doing better. Little pet prayers being said for the furry guy.

[ColdOne]

That 2nd photo the cat is thinking.....dang I hate airports!

[TheOldLady]

Thanks so much for the update, Slings. Greatly appreciated, and it's nice to see that Jack appears to be on the mend.

I tend to agree with the theory that someone opened the kennel for some reason. Those plastic straps plus the kennel door mechanism would not fail from the kennel's falling from the height of one kennel.

And those kennels have interlocks on them so that they may be safely stacked without sliding off each other. The whole "kennel fell down" story is as fishy as 9-Lives.

[Slings and Arrows]

Wise kitteh.

[Slings and Arrows]

You’re welcome, and plausible theory.

[ColdOne]

True dat!!! I was going to say Jack not happy with customs!!!!

Meow!

[Lady Jag]

At least it was the short sighted
TSA ceiling and not the chapel one.

[Slings and Arrows]

Best kind.

[La Enchiladita]

Thank you for the update. Jack is a champ!!
I also see a big old lawsuit headed American Airlines’ way.

[Vendome]

Sweet!

[Fawn]

I’ll never forget the relief I felt when I saw my 3 kitties rolled out for me to pick them up at the airport.....I was so worried it wouldn’t go well.....