A Southwest flight turned into the cutest kind of chaos when a flight attendant was spotted calmly walking down the aisle with a gray cat nestled in his arms — a surprisingly composed feline who seemed more curious than concerned about its sudden mid-air adventure.
“When a cat gets loose on your Thanksgiving flight home and no one claims it,” wrote the poster, jaytom531.
In the Instagram video, passengers laugh, coo, and reach out for a pet as the cat surveys the cabin like it’s conducting its own in-flight safety check.
Commenters were immediately obsessed. “Look how happy the flight attendant is!!” one user wrote, while another joked, “It’s like the cat is checking tray tables in preparation for arrival…”
The biggest mystery, of course: Where was the cat’s human?
“@southwestair did you all locate the cat owner I hope? Was he microchipped?” one commenter asked. Others were baffled: “How do you not realize you flew with your cat” and it’s gone missing?
The cat itself won unanimous praise for being the most cooperative traveler on board. “Cat behaves better than many people on planes these days,” one person noted. Another added, “The most well-behaved and best dressed passenger on the flight!”
And naturally, cat fans on the internet claimed custody immediately:
-
“Oh I would take that little baby with me.”
-
“I’d claim this beauty in a flash!”
-
“It’s mine regardless if it didn’t get on the plane with me.”
One commenter even pitched a new airline perk: “Why not make cats on board a thing? I’d enjoy flying a lot more knowing I can pet a cat.”
At least one user said they were onboard and confirmed: The cat did make it back to its family. (No word on whether it earned Rapid Rewards points.)
How to keep your pet from escaping during a flight
-
Microchip your pet as a backup ID.
-
Add a tag with your seat number in case of mid-flight wanderings.
-
Keep the carrier fully zipped when possible.
-
Bring comforts and treats to help keep them calm.