A beloved shop cat was found 90 miles from her home after a community launched drones in a bid to track her down.
Francine, a stray who has lived at a DIY store for eight years, went missing in mid-September, sparking a desperate search.
Staff launched a massive rescue mission using thermal drones, professional trackers, and hours of CCTV footage, as reported by What’s The Jam.
READ MORE: Unloved Tiny, 18 – thought to be oldest unwanted dog in country – looking for new home
- Advertisement -
It soon became clear the cheeky moggy had accidentally hopped onto a truck bound for the company’s distribution centre.
Signs, humane traps, and cameras were set up across the site in Garysburg, North Carolina, US, with asset protection teams monitoring every clue.
On Saturday (4 October), Francine was finally caught on camera – and moments before midnight, she was safely trapped using her favourite food.
“She looked at us and gave this big meow like, ‘What took you so long?’” said Wayne Schneider, of Lowe’s Home Improvement in Richmond, Virginia, who was reunited with the cat on Monday (6 October).
Store manager Mike Sida added: “From the start, we knew we’d do whatever it took to bring Francine home.
- Advertisement -
“She’s part of who we are here.”
The pair made the 90-minute drive at 4am on Monday (6 October) to collect their furry colleague and bring her back to Richmond.
Sida added: “She has always been a beacon for our customers.
- Advertisement -
“She’s more than our store cat – she’s part of our family.”
READ MORE: Adorable Lord of the Rings puppies find their fur-ever homes
