As many cat parents know all too well, cats love boxes. If you’ve ever had cats, you’ll probably be able to recall a time when you bought your feline an exciting new toy, only for them to ignore it in favor of the box it came in.
Yup, while we might not think of boxes as being among the best cat toys, our kitties love them. And some love them more than most.
In fact, one cat loves boxes so much that she ended up in California!
Remarkably, a pet cat was accidentally shipped to the Golden State, hundreds of miles from her home in Utah, in an Amazon return package.
Galeana went missing in April, leaving her parents confused, but a week later an Amazon employee found her in a box of work boots and took her to a vet.
Her cat mom, Carrie Clark, was identified and contacted through the cat’s microchip, and told KSL TV that it was the “most amazing, insane news in the entire world.”
She added, "I didn't believe [the vet] at first and thought it was a prank.”
Clark flew to California with her husband to be reunited with Galeana, and said, “We brought Galena’s pink carrier, food, favorite treats, and towels that smelled like home. We couldn’t wait to see her again!”
She continued, “It was an amazing reunion! Galena instantly stopped shaking and relaxed in my arms when I got to hold her again. Galeana loves boxes, it’s just part of her personality.”
Despite Galeana not having any food or water for days, she was able to survive. The box she was in had a loose seam, so she was able to breathe, and the weather conditions weren’t extreme, with no danger of the cat overheating or freezing.
Clark has urged all pet parents to microchip their pets and check their Amazon boxes before sending them back.
Indeed, microchip scanners can help reunite pets with their parents. It’s a sad truth that many of our beloved pets get lost or stolen, but microchips can help us get them back – just as a microchip allowed vets to locate and contact Galeana’s parents.
And it’s a good idea to check boxes before sending them off, too. The confined, enclosed nature of cardboard boxes really appeals to cats, as they’re the sort of places where they can feel safe and warm, but also hide and ambush prey. Sitting in boxes might be one of those 32 weird cat behaviors that you’re worried about, but it’s totally normal!
