Cat lost in Yellowstone is found 2 months later, 800 miles away in Roseville

A cat that was lost in Yellowstone National Park in June somehow made its way to Roseville, more than 800 miles away, and two months later was reunited with his family. The happy, tearful reunion was thanks to a good Samaritan, the Placer SPCA, and a microchip. And the story gets even more amazing: The cat's family lives in Salinas, not Roseville! The incredible story of Rayne Beau (pronounced Rainbow) a beautiful Siamese cat, began in early June. Rayne Beau always travels with his family; in June, they traveled from their home in Salinas to Yellowstone. Leilani Fratis, CEO of Placer SPCA, said at some point, Rayne Beau got out, much to the family's dismay. "They spent days looking for this cat. Tirelessly, they were really doing everything they possibly could to find the kitty, putting food out, putting the litter box out, searching constantly," said Fratis. "But the reality came that they needed to leave. So with broken hearts, they left thinking they had lost their cat forever." Two months later, in early August, a woman spotted a cat in the parking lot of a medical center in Roseville on Medical Plaza Drive; the cat looked skinny and hungry. The woman fed the cat, then returned the next day and found the cat was still there. This was during the recent heatwave when it was regularly 100 degrees outside, so the good Samaritan decided to take the cat home. "She kept it overnight and then brought it to us at the center the following day. And that's when we scanned the kitty for a microchip, as we do for every animal that comes into our shelter, and lo and behold that's what we found," said Fratis. Because Rayne Beau was microchipped, the shelter was able to contact his family right away; they were understandably ecstatic and shocked. "It was a family that lived in Salinas. So that in and of itself, we said, 'OK, that's interesting, they live in Salinas. Why would a family living in Salinas, why would we have their cat in Roseville?' " Fratis said. "But then as we came to talk with them more, it became even more interesting to know that no, this cat didn't get lost in Salinas. It got lost in Yellowstone." When the shelter opened the following day, the couple were already there, ready to pick up their long lost Rayne Beau. There was elation and many tears as the family was reunited with their beloved cat they feared was gone forever. The amazing story of Rayne Beau is a huge reminder of how important microchipping is, said Fratis. "It is the only form of permanent identification. Collars and tags are wonderful but they can come off, especially on kitties. The one thing that never leaves them once a procedure is completed is a microchip," explained Fratis. The Placer SPCA has received more than 1,000 stray cats this past year; of those, 380 are 4 months and older, and of those, only 23 were reunited with owners; 18 of those 23 were microchipped. All animals adopted at the Placer SPCA are microchipped before they leave the facility because of how important it is for reuniting lost pets with owners. The shelter also offers clinics to the public once a month by appointment, where they microchip for $15. As for Rayne Beau, we will never know how he got from Yellowstone to Roseville, but he's living his best life now, back home in Salinas with his family.