NEW BRUNSWICK, Canada: A woman has unwittingly carried a stowaway more than 870 miles after her intrepid family feline hid in her luggage while she was packing for an airline trip.
Lax airport security allowed Mary Martell to fly more than 1400km from Saint John Airport on Canada's Atlantic coast all the way to Toronto with Ginger, her family pet, in her suitcase.
Martell told CBC her bag was scanned at the airport, but she was not stopped.
"They had asked me, when they put … the luggage through the X-ray, whether I had a turkey," Martell said.
"[Security] kept going back and forth with [the suitcase]," Martell said. "I was adamant. 'Look, I have no turkey.'"
According to news.com.au, Ms Martell said she only discovered Ginger, when she opened her luggage in a hotel room, after the three-hour journey.
As if that wasn't enough adventure for the adventurous tabby, Martell then drove a further hour from Toronto before eventually discovering Ginger when she started unpacking, according to rawstory.
Air Canada agreed to let the cat fly home for free in a proper pet container. Martell said Ginger is doing fine.
Turkey? If customs thgought she had a turkey in her bag how did she get on the flight at all? Poor cat - although it sounds like exactly the sort of thing my cat Trixie would do if she could.
I blame the owner here - didn't she check to see where her cat was before she left - even to say goodbye? Take some responsibility for your actions next time.
Poor kitty, she must have been half scared to death. And it's not just about responsibility - pets just get themselves into these situations sometimes. You can't keep tabs on them every minute. I can imagine this happening to me.
Awww... isn't that cute? My cats just LOVE hopping into whatever bag I have opened at the moment, especially when they see me fishing around for stuff. I can imagine Ms Martell was just packing her stuff, and with her back turned to get more clothes, her cat jumped in and made herself comfortable.
Isn't Ginger just a cutie? my kitty hopped on to my gym bag once. cats are really smart. they know when you are about to leave and they just want to be with you, whatever means it is. animals really do the darndest things. but i think it's sweet.
I smell something fishy! Looks to me someone wants to give her cat a free ride...
hmm.. this article gave me an idea. im thinking of spending thanksgiving with my friends in washington and i dont want to leave my tabby behind 'cause no one will feed her.. hmmm.. hahaha...
lol security was asking if there was a turkey inside the suitcase? a cat does not have the same bone structure as a turkey! the cat really did outsmart customs!
awwww! what a cute story! that's why i really love cats. they are so loyal, sweet and affectionate. im just glad that nothing bad happened to ginger.
heehee! cute ginger... did not want to be far away from the owner. though cats are aloof at times, they can be really sweet.
amazing! its a good thing that she didnt suffocate inside that luggage. although i just find it hard to imagine that the owner didnt even notice her cat going inside it in the first place.
LOL! a turkey! smart security, i'd say! but anyway, so typical of cats to stick their noses to where it don't belong. i always see my cat in the most unusual places - my gym bag, shoes, name it!