Two hitchhiking moggies fly into the UK
We are taking care of two stowaway cats that have made incredible journeys into Heathrow airport from the Middle East and India.
A male tabby-and-white cat was discovered in the hold of a flight from Saudi Arabia in April and just a few weeks later a young kitten was discovered in a suitcase full of mangos, pineapple and rice.
The suitcase owner who had arrived from India recognised the friendly kitten as belonging to his maid and said it must have been on two flights.
“It’s extraordinary how both these cats survived their long journeys with little
ventilation – especially the kitten,” said Beverley Russell, Cats Protection’s Operations Support Manager. “We can only assume she ate some of the food in the suitcase so she’s been given the name Mango.
Both cats are now in quarantine and we’ll be looking for new owners once they’re out - unless we can trace the owner of the Middle Eastern cat who we’ve called Saudi.”
According to airport staff, the older cat was clearly distressed after travelling over 3,000 miles from the Middle East and proved difficult to trap.
As there was no record of any cats on flight SV113, it is thought he must have been a stowaway who sneaked on board at King Abdulaziz International Airport near Jeddah.
Saudi is not microchipped and so Cats Protection is appealing for anyone with information about his owner to come forward by contacting the charity’s National Information Line by emailing
or calling 03000 12 12 12.
We appealing for contributions to the quarantine fees for both cats as Cats Protection is reliant on public donations. Any funds raised over and over the amount needed will be used to care for other cats and kittens who need our support.
Cats Protection is the UK’s leading feline welfare charity. Our vision is a world where every cat is treated with kindness and an understanding of its needs.
Cats Protection has simple and clear objectives to help cats:
Homing - Finding good homes for cats in need
Neutering - Supporting and encouraging the neutering of cats
Information - Improving people’s understanding of cats and their care
Achieving this vision is only made possible due to kind cat lovers who support our work. Visit www.cats.org.uk for more information.
