On Wednesday, Nick Coole and his wife were flying to New York to celebrate his 40th birthday when they were suddenly delayed by airport security.
They had made care to pack light so that they would have enough room in their baggage to bring back mementos. They had no idea that one of their carry-ons was a little heavier than they had anticipated.
“After the suitcase had gone past the scanner, airport security was all baffled and constantly inquired if the bag was ours,” Coole told The Dodo.
Security officials ushered the couple into a private room off to the side. Unsure what could be the matter and anxious to board their flight, Coole’s wife suddenly had an idea: “We were taken into a private room where my wife flagged, ‘I bet it’s a cat,’” Coole said. “‘It’s the only thing it can be.’”
When a security officer unzipped the luggage, out popped the Cooles’ 5-year-old cat Candy — clearly not happy about being left behind.
Of the Cooles’ three cats, Candy has a special talent for squeezing into bags and boxes. And this wasn’t the first time that she had secretly hitched a ride out of town.
“She went missing for two weeks once and was located in a different town when we were on vacation,” Coole recalled. “We believe she boarded a construction vehicle.” She’s an expert at squeezing into tight spaces.”
The airport employees had never seen anything like it, but they all pitched in to make sure Coole didn’t miss his special flight. Friends arrived just in time to take up the young stowaway, allowing the couple to make it to their gate before the doors closed.
Candy is now awaiting her parents’ safe return from the comfort of her home, while the Cooles are happy to have a cat-free 40th birthday trip.
