A freshly neutered Florida feline named George returned to his home after escaping from a veterinarian appointment and walked nearly 3 miles back to his house over the course of a few days.
Newsweek has reached out to SPCA Florida for more information via email on Saturday during non-working hours.
The Context
Cats are touted by some as excellent pets due to their self-reliance, able to eat, hunt and use the bathroom on their own. George, despite being on anesthesia, still had the directional sense to return to his owner and his home miles away.
Joey Lusvardi, certified cat behaviorist, told local news station Fox 13 Tampa Bay that “cats evolved to naturally find their way back. We think it’s a combination of scent, visual markers, and possibly geo-magnetism.”
What to Know
George was still feeling the effects of his sedation medication when he escaped from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) Florida, Fox 13 Tampa Bay reported on Thursday.
The feline’s owner, Bob Beasock, told the station that George managed to break out of a cage, scale a fence, and run into the woods before making the 3-mile trek home.
“He had to go through two or three subdivisions, around a couple of lakes, and cross five or six roads,” Beasock said. “If I had been stuck there, I would’ve called an Uber. But George didn’t have that option.”
Beasock added that George “was able to pop that cage open and he sprung out of there and he was gone in seconds.”
The cat’s owner said the employees tried to give chase but weren’t able to catch up to George.
Randa Richter, Humane Programs & Public Media Director of SPCA Florida, told Fox 13 Tampa Bay that the cat quickly outran the employees.
“Our staff were literally hoisting each other up over the fences to try to chase George to try to capture him,” Richter recalled.
The daring escape made even more impressive by what he was on.
“He still had silly drugs in his system,” Richter added.
What People Are Saying
Bob Beasock told Fox 13 Tampa Bay: “I was distraught and heartbroken. He needed a human touch—and that’s what he got.”
Randa Richter, Humane Programs & Public Media Director of SPCA Florida, told Fox 13 Tampa Bay: “George was able to bust out of the trap and he literally scaled some dog fencing and went into the woods.”
Joey Lusvardi, certified cat behaviorist, told Fox 13 Tampa Bay: “Contrary to popular belief, cats are very attached to us. They will want to find their way back home.”
What Happens Next?
After a big adventure, George is safe at home and recovering from his procedure.
It is unknown if the cat suffered any medical complications during his escape.
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