Cat ditches Wisconsin on Christmas, heads to Florida

Owners feared the worst, until 
a miraculous phone call Monday

It takes about 22 hours to reach Florida by car for a person traveling from Wisconsin. 

If you’re a cat, though, the 1,484-mile journey apparently takes about two months.

At least that’s how long it took Nadia, the Russian blue, to travel from her home in Sheboygan, Wis., on Christmas Eve to Naples. Fla., where animal officials helped find her owners.

Cheri Stocker adopted the cat nine months ago in Wisconsin. Nadia got out on Christmas Eve and couldn’t be found. They feared the worst.

Monday, however, Stocker’s sister got a miraculous phone call from Collier County Domestic Animal Services in Naples. They had Nadia. A woman had found the kitty in North Naples. 

Workers at an animal shelter used the cat’s microchip and, through a pet relocation service, got hold of Stocker’s sister, who had been listed as an emergency contact. 

From there, Stocker received an outpouring of support from people offering to give the kitty a lift back to Wisconsin – thought she probably wants to wait until winter is through.

“I didn’t get to take (a vacation) this year, but she did,” Stocker told the Naples Daily News.

Stocker has no idea how her cat could have gotten all the way to Florida, but thought maybe Nadia hitched a ride on a pallet or on a semi from the couple of businesses around her home.