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Stowaway kitten survives continental journey
Last updated at 00:00am on 24.11.04
the lucky stowaway
A stowaway kitten ended up in north Wales after sneaking aboard a lorry in Italy, it emerged today.
Mario, who is thought to be about six months old, was discovered in a wooden packing crate when the lorry arrived at a factory in Flint after a three-day trip of almost 1,000 miles from Milan.
The cat's adventure means he will now have to spend the next six months in quarantine in Chester.
When he was discovered in the crate, the kitten was initially taken in by Joy Pierce-Jones, who owns Flintshire Wildlife and Pet Rescue in Holywell.
"He is just a little black bundle of fluff with huge, round, yellow eyes," she said.
"He is gorgeous. He is approximately six months old and has only got a stump for a tail. Whether he was born like that or has lost it since we don't know.
"He just sneaked into the packing crate and was sealed in. He set off from Italy last Friday, but he could have been in there since Wednesday or Thursday." Mario appeared to have emerged from his surprise trip unscathed, said Mrs Pierce-Jones, even though it must have been "unnerving" for him.
"Cats are very resilient but being so young and being without food or water he is extremely fortunate," she said. "He bounced back remarkably well. He was extremely stressed, as anybody would have been."
Mrs Pierce-Jones chose the name Mario, saying the first name which came to her mind was that of Super Mario, a Nintendo game her sons had when they were little.
Now the rescue centre is appealing for help to meet the £1,500 cost of keeping Mario in quarantine. The company in Milan where the cat climbed aboard the lorry has already been in touch to offer a donation.
Mrs Pierce-Jones said she plans to give a permanent home in six months' time to Mario, who is fast becoming something of a celebrity.
"So many people want to come and visit him and if he gets re-homed people are not going to want strangers traipsing through their house to see Mario," she said.
