As Montequlla the Cat’s family busied themselves with packing for their move, the stressed tabby sought refuge from the chaos. He found a seemingly safe haven inside a recliner, away from the hustle of boxes and packing tape. Unbeknownst to Montequlla, his chosen hideaway was not destined for the new home but for donation. Equally unaware, his family inadvertently included him in the recliner when they dropped it off at a thrift store in Denver, Colorado, not realizing their furry family member was hitching a ride.
After his family left the Denver Arc Thrift Store, employees found the kitty stuck inside the chair and called Denver Animal Protection (DAP) for help. Meanwhile, Montequlla’s family realized their boy was missing and began a frantic search.
A Surprise Practice Move No One Expected
Responding to the call about a kitty stuck in a recliner, DAP Officer Jenna Humphreys found a fast friend in Montequlla when she arrived at the thrift store. As Humphreys told Denver’s ABC 7, staff heard meowing from the chair, and seeing the situation with her own eyes, she explained, “Sure enough, there’s a recliner out front, and there’s a little orange tabby stuck inside.”
She described Montequlla as “very friendly,” but the orange cat couldn’t get free of the recliner. With a bit of help and some coaxing, Montequlla was soon out of the chair and safe in Humphreys’ truck. A microchip scan revealed Montequlla’s identity, and Humphreys tried contacting the number listed but had no luck.
Meanwhile, His Family was Searching
Once Montequlla’s family arrived home, they realized their cat was missing. They searched the house, but with the move in progress, it was mostly empty. Which meant there weren’t many places he could have hidden. Then, his family realized where Monetqulla must have gone and headed to the thrift store right away.
But when his family arrived, Humphreys had already picked him up. Store staff gave his family the officer’s number, and a phone call soon saw the kitty reunited with his family.
“The owners were absolutely thrilled to have their cat back,” shared Humphreys. “They were so relieved.”
Humphreys explained that animals often “seek hiding spots” during stressful moments, “so, this one just happened to pick the recliner that they were going to donate to Arc.”
“It’s not uncommon for us to be called to help remove animals from those situations, but this was a new one.”
Posting on Facebook about the rescue and reunion, the Denver Animal Shelter expressed, “We are so happy for the ending to this story and are thankful to everyone involved in getting this sweet cat home safely.”
H/T: www.thedenverchannel.com
Feature Image: Denver Animal Shelter/Facebook