Mittens the cat becomes accidental frequent flyer after getting mistakenly left on plane

A Maine coon cat named Mittens became an accidental jetsetter this month when her cage was overlooked in a plane cargo hold and she made three trips in 24 hours between New Zealand and Australia.

Mittens, 8, was booked for one-way travel with her family from Christchurch, New Zealand to their new home in Melbourne, Australia on Jan. 13.

But owner Margo Neas said Wednesday that as she waited for Mittens to be unloaded from the plane’s freight area, three hours passed with no sign of the cat.

Mittens and her owner Margo Neas in their new home in Melbourne, Australia on Jan. 22, 2025. AP

It was then that ground staff told Neas the plane had returned to New Zealand — with Mittens still on board. The return trip involves

Continue reading