An orange house cat missing since 2013 from South Carolina was finally found after hitching a ride on a U-Haul trailer to Riverside County.

And with that, Kevin’s cross-country adventure came to a close. Animal control officers are arranging a flight to return the tabby to its owner on Wednesday morning.

“We have handled some pets with crazy pet stories, and this is one more for the list,” said Riverside County Animal Services Director Robert Miller.

The stowaway cat was found hiding in the trailer during a routine inspection at the Arizona border. The female driver was unaware that Kevin was in the trailer she was towing, said John Welsh, spokesman for Riverside County Animal Services.


During the inspection, the woman opened the trailer and was surprised to find the cat, which meowed several times.

The dehydrated tabby was transported to Blythe Animal Shelter, where it was discovered to be microchipped. Animal control officials tracked down the owner, Cheryl Walls, who said the cat disappeared in fall 2013 from Anderson, S.C.

Kevin was an indoor cat “but acted unhappy,” Walls said, according to Welsh.

So she allowed Kevin, who bears the name of her late fiancé, to go outside. That routine continued for some time, but one day the cat did not return.


Walls told animal control officials she was looking forward to Kevin’s return.

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