Benny and Susanne Anguiano, a couple from Salinas, California, recently experienced the reunion of a lifetime with their beloved cat, Rayne Beau, who mysteriously traveled 900 miles after going missing.
The adventure began when the couple took a trip to Yellowstone National Park in early June. During the vacation, Rayne Beau was startled and bolted into the thick forest. The Anguianos were heartbroken and spent the remainder of their trip searching desperately for their missing feline, often losing their own way in the wilderness. They placed his favorite toys and treats around their campsite, hoping to entice him back.
However, their hopes began to fade when a Yellowstone employee warned them about a recent coyote attack in the area, suggesting it would be a miracle if their cat survived the night. By the end of their trip, they still hadn't found Rayne Beau, and leaving without him was one of the hardest things they had to do.
“We had to leave without him,” Susanne Anguiano shared in an interview with NBC affiliate KSBW. “That was the hardest day, because I felt like I was abandoning him.”
As they drove away, something unusual happened. Susanne noticed two rainbows appearing in the sky. She took it as a sign of hope. “It just knit it all together for me,” she explained, choosing to believe that her furry friend would somehow find his way back to them.
Two months later, her faith was rewarded. The couple received an unexpected message from PetWatch, the pet microchip registry service, informing them that Rayne Beau had been located. To their amazement, he was at a shelter in Roseville, California—over 800 miles away from where he’d disappeared.
A kind woman had found Rayne Beau wandering alone on the streets of Roseville and turned him into the shelter, where staff scanned his microchip and contacted the Anguianos. How he managed to travel such a great distance remains a mystery. Rayne Beau’s remarkable journey had clearly taken a toll—once a 14-pound cat, he was down to just 8 pounds when he was found.
“He was really depleted,” Susanne noted. “He probably didn’t have much energy left.”
On August 4th, the Anguianos were finally reunited with Rayne Beau. Now safely back home, he spends his time recovering, playing with his twin sister, and taking long, well-deserved naps. Yet, the mystery of how he made his way across such vast terrain still lingers.
Benny Anguiano hopes that someone who hears their story may recall seeing their adventurous cat along the way, saying, “Maybe someone will hear this and remember, ‘Hey, I saw that cat here or there,’ or maybe they even took him in.”
As they celebrate Rayne Beau’s return, the Anguianos are using their experience to raise awareness for other pet owners. “Make sure your pet is microchipped and that the microchip is registered online,” Susanne advised. “Without that, we never would have gotten him back.”
Rayne Beau is finally safe at home, settling back into his regular routine. And while this incredible journey might have left many pet owners wary of future outdoor adventures, the Anguianos are already planning their next trip—this time with a global tracker for Rayne Beau.
“We’re not giving up on camping,” Benny said with a laugh. “We just have better precautions now.”
Rayne Beau's story is a heartwarming reminder of the bond between pets and their owners, and a testament to the wonders of microchipping and hope.