Imagine losing your beloved cat in the vast wilderness of Yellowstone National Park. For Benny and Susanne Anguiano from Salinas, California, this nightmare became a reality when their feline companion, Rayne Beau, vanished into the dense forest during their early June trip. What followed was a story of heartbreak, hope, and an unbelievable journey spanning 900 miles.
The Anguiano’s Yellowstone vacation took a distressing turn when Rayne Beau, their house cat, got spooked and bolted into the woods. The couple’s idyllic trip instantly transformed into a frantic search. They desperately scoured the area, even losing their way at times, calling out for Rayne Beau and leaving out his favorite treats and toys, hoping to coax him back to their campsite. Adding to their anxiety, a Yellowstone park employee informed them about a recent coyote attack on a small dog nearby, casting a shadow of doubt on Rayne Beau’s chances of survival. Despite their exhaustive efforts throughout their vacation, they had to make the agonizing decision to leave Yellowstone without him.
“We had to leave without him,” Susanne Anguiano recounted to NBC affiliate KSBW, her voice still heavy with the memory. “That was the hardest day, because I felt like I was abandoning him.” As they drove away from Yellowstone, a glimmer of hope appeared in the form of double rainbows arching across the sky. Susanne took this celestial display as a sign, a namesake of her cat, urging her to hold onto hope for Rayne Beau’s safe return.
Benny and Susanne Anguiano, reunited with Rayne Beau, their cat who remarkably traveled 900 miles from Yellowstone National Park back to California after getting lost.
Sixty long days passed. Then, a message from PetWatch, a pet microchip registry service, delivered news that seemed almost too good to be true. Rayne Beau’s microchip had been scanned at a shelter in Roseville, California – over 800 miles away from where he disappeared in Yellowstone. A woman in Roseville had found him wandering alone and, recognizing he was a pet, brought him to the shelter. The Anguianos were astounded. How did their cat, lost in Yellowstone, manage to travel nearly 900 miles to Roseville?
The incredible journey had clearly taken its toll on Rayne Beau. Before his Yellowstone adventure, he was a healthy 14 pounds. When found, he had dwindled to a mere 8 pounds. “He was really depleted,” Susanne explained to KSBW. “He probably didn’t have a lot of energy to even go further.”
Rayne Beau was finally back home on August 4th, joyfully reunited with his twin sister. He’s now focused on recovering, playing, and enjoying plenty of catnaps. However, the mystery of his epic journey home remains. Benny Anguiano hopes that sharing their story might jog someone’s memory. “Hey, I remember that cat, and, like, we saw it here, we saw it there’ or even they took it in,” he mused to KSBW, hoping to piece together the missing parts of Rayne Beau’s adventure.
Beyond the mystery, the Anguianos want to emphasize a crucial message to other pet owners: the importance of microchipping your pets. “Definitely microchip your cat or your pet and register the microchip online,” Susanne stressed to KSBW. “We would have never gotten them back had that not happened.” Rayne Beau’s story is a testament to the power of microchipping and a heartwarming reminder that hope can lead to extraordinary reunions. And despite their Yellowstone ordeal, the Anguianos haven’t sworn off camping. In fact, Benny shared with NBC News, “We have a global tracker now,” ensuring Rayne Beau’s future adventures are a little less mysterious, and a lot safer.
