After journeying nearly 6,400 miles from Asia to Southern California, a 4-year-old feline is looking for a permanent home on these shores.
She was found earlier this month inside a freight container that had passed through the Port of Los Angeles after leaving Manila in the Philippines.
The cat had been inside the container – delivered to a business in the city of Industry where the animal was found – for about three weeks.
When found on July 16, she was "very weak and frail," said Marcia Mayeda, director of the County of Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control, which was called to the business.
"It is amazing that this cat could survive the almost 6,400-nautical-mile journey by sea without food or water," Mayeda said in a news release issued by the agency.
This time last year, a similar story generated adoration for a tiny kitten named "Ni Hao" that had traveled from Shanhai to the Port of LA aboard a shipping container. He was adopted by a Redondo Beach couple.
The cat found this month was named "Pinay" (Pin-eye) by staff, using a term for a Filipina.
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"We wanted to give her a name which kept her close to her roots," said Dr. Maria Sabio-Solacito, the department’s senior veterinarian and a native Filipino.
Pinay is a domestic short haired, orange-and-white female – and she just cleared quarantine and will soon be available for adoption, according to department staff.
"She’s making slow but steady progress," said department spokeswoman Evelina Villa. "She needs to rehab a little bit."
Pinay has gained a pound and has been getting stronger since arriving at the Baldwin Park Animal Care Center’s medical unit.
For now, the county is hoping to find an appropriate home for Pinay. Interested adopters – or potential foster families – should have “considerable experience dealing with skittish cats,” Mayeda said.
"Pinay has been through a lot and needs a calm, loving family to help her transition," Mayeda said.
Those hoping to provide a home for Pinay should email daccevents@animalcare.lacounty.gov for more information.
