Ohio rescue group helps return cat found 2,000 miles from home

DEFIANCE, Ohio (WANE) - At 15-years-old, a cross-country traveler found herself 2,110 miles from home, alone.

An unplanned adventure for “Skittles” the cat will come to an end Thursday when the feline will be reunited with her owner in Reno, Nevada.

Skittles had been traveling with her owner’s extended family from Pennsylvania on the way to Reno in an RV when they stopped at Pokagon State Park in Fremont, Ind. in September.  During the trip, Skittle’s lust for bird watching put her in a dangerous situation when the cat popped a window screen in the vehicle allowing her to escape from safety.

The cat’s caretakers searched endlessly for their four-legged friend but ultimately had to return to travel for medical reasons without the pet, leaving information about the missing cat with park officials.

Six weeks later, a Pokagon park ranger discovered the nomadic creature of nine-lives, lonely in the woods. 

Skittles was taken to the Steuben County Humane Society where a volunteer for Friends of Felines’ Rescue Center (FFRC) in Defiance, Ohio learned her story.

The rescue group has spent the past two weeks rehabilitating Skittles who had lost more than two pounds and was infested with fleas and ticks from her stay in the wilderness.

Jacci Moss, the director for FFRC said Skittles was not immediately ready for travel.  Her recuperation time afforded many loyal to the rescue center time to hear about Skittle’s journey and donate money to pay for her trip home.

According to FFRC, the group has a large following of cat-lovers around the world who tune in regularly to the rescue’s live webcam.  A stationary camera offers a view of the rescue and its occupants 24 hours a day.  The stream has received more than four million views in its three years running.

See the 24/7 Kitty Cam

The rescue group said many ”webcammers” helped pay for Moss’ airfare to return Skittles to Reno.

The two will fly out of Fort Wayne en route to Skittle’s happy family Thursday.