Benny and Susanne Anguiano from Salinas, California, recently went through every pet owner’s worst nightmare: their beloved cat, Rayne Beau, went missing during a trip to Yellowstone National Park. What followed was an unbelievable story of survival, perseverance, and ultimately, an emotional reunion that covered nearly 900 miles.
A fairytale Reunion: Yellowstone missing cat travels 900 miles to reunite with owners
The Heart-Wrenching Search for Yellowstone missing cat, Rayne Beau
It all started when Rayne Beau, spooked by something in the wilderness, bolted into the forest during their vacation in early June. The couple frantically searched for him, calling out his name, laying out his favorite treats and toys, and combing through the dense woods. Days passed with no sign of Rayne Beau, and their hope began to fade.
“We spent the rest of our trip looking for him,” Susanne recalled. “At times, we even got lost ourselves in the vast wilderness. It was just devastating.”
Their fear grew when a Yellowstone employee informed them that coyotes had attacked a small dog nearby, warning them that their cat might not make it through the night. Despite the bleak news, Benny and Susanne clung to the sliver of hope that Rayne Beau would somehow return.
Unfortunately, when the trip came to an end, they were forced to leave Yellowstone without him. “It was the hardest thing we’ve ever had to do,” Susanne said, fighting back tears. “I felt like I was leaving him behind, and it broke my heart.”
A Sign from Above
As they drove away from the park, an extraordinary moment gave them a renewed sense of hope. “We were heading out when we suddenly saw two rainbows,” Susanne recalled. “Rayne Beau’s name literally has ‘rainbow’ in it, and seeing that in the sky, I just knew we couldn’t lose faith.”
And just two months later, that faith paid off. They received a message from PetWatch, a pet microchip registry, letting them know that Rayne Beau had been found—800 miles away in Roseville, California.
A Long and Mysterious Journey of Yellowstone missing cat
How Rayne Beau managed to travel such a long distance remains a mystery. A kind woman found him wandering the streets of Roseville, and recognizing he wasn’t a stray, she took him to a local shelter. When they scanned his microchip, they were able to contact the Anguianos.
By the time they were reunited, Rayne Beau had clearly been through an ordeal. He had lost a significant amount of weight, dropping from 14 pounds to just 8. “He was so skinny and worn out,” Susanne said, “but we were just so relieved to have him back.”
Back Where He Belongs
Rayne Beau was finally reunited with his family on August 4th, and since then, he’s been slowly recovering. He spends his days resting, playing with his twin sister, and enjoying the comfort of home after his incredible journey.
Despite being overjoyed to have him home, Benny and Susanne are still curious about how their cat managed to travel so far. “I hope someone who may have seen him along the way can help us piece together the rest of his adventure,” Benny said.
A Word of Advice for Pet Owners
The Anguianos hope their story encourages other pet owners to microchip their pets. “We would’ve never found Rayne Beau if it weren’t for that microchip,” Susanne said. “Make sure your pet’s microchip is registered online—it’s so important.”
As for Rayne Beau, he’s back where he belongs, safe and sound. And despite everything they’ve been through, the Anguianos aren’t swearing off future camping trips just yet. “We’ll be going back out there, but we’ll definitely be keeping a closer eye on Rayne Beau next time.”