A lost cat called Rayne Beau – pronounced “rainbow” – embarked on a unimaginable solo road trip from Wyoming to California that would make any feline influencer jealous!
The adventurous feline disappeared for two whole months after getting lost in Yellowstone during a summer camping trip
But in a plot twist worthy of a feline-studded Hollywood Blockbuster, the Gray cat Rayne Beau struts back into town, leaving everyone wondering if he’d hooked up with a coterie of bear buddies who took him under their wing…or paw, or if he just hitchhiked his way back via a series of very generous, slightly confused motorists!
Thrilling Trip Takes a Dark Turn
Benny and Susanne Anguiano embarked on a thrilling adventure to Yellowstone’s Fishing Bridge RV Park on June 4, 2024, eager to introduce their two cats to the great outdoors. Sadly, the tranquility of nature quickly turned into a comedy of errors when Rayne Beau bolted into the nearby trees like a furry rocket on a caffeine high.
The couple became determined amateur detectives, searching for four days with the fervor of spy movie protagonists, using Rayne Beau’s favorite treats and toys as tools in their quest to find their missing cat.
As they reluctantly packed up to head back to Salinas, California, on June 8, Susanne felt her heart sink but held onto hope tighter than a cat clinging to a laser pointer, convinced that somehow, Rayne Beau would emerge from the trees, perhaps with a wild tale of his own!
“We were entering the Nevada desert and all of a sudden I see a double rainbow. And I took a picture of it and I thought, that’s a sign. That’s a sign for our rainbow that he’s going to be okay,” she told AP News.
Rainbow Of Hope
In August, the Anguianos received incredible news when a microchip company informed them that their cat had been found at the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Roseville, California—almost 900 miles (1,448 kilometers) from Yellowstone. Remarkably, he was only about 200 miles (322 kilometers) away from his home in Salinas.
A woman who spotted Rayne Beau wandering the streets of a northern California city initially fed him and provided water before successfully trapping him on August 3 and bringing him to the local SPCA.
The next day, the Anguianos hit the road to Roseville to fetch their feline, whose paws looked like they just ran a marathon. Rayne Beau lost 40% of his body weight and dropped 6 pounds.
The couple still has no clue how their lost cat made it to Roseville, but they’re convinced he was just trying to get home.
Benny Anguiano said that besides to microchipping their cats, they’ve equipped two with AirTags and outfitted Rayne Beau with a GPS tracker.
Future Travel Plans
The cats absolutely adore the camper life, gazing out the large windows at deer, squirrels, and other wildlife—basically, their version of a nature documentary. But don’t expect the Anguiano family to hit the road with their furry travel companions just yet.
“Losing him felt like an absolute gut punch,” Benny admitted. “So for now, we’ll practice our camping skills at home—starting with some good ol’ driveway ‘glamping’ to acclimatize him.
