Mittens, an eight-year-old Maine Coon cat, is recovering after an ordeal that saw her left in the hold of a plane her owners had put her on, as the family from New Zealand looked to start a new life in Australia.

Baggage handlers failed to spot the cat’s cage and the plane was allowed to begin its return journey without her being removed.

Frantic owner Margo Neas alerted ground staff at Melbourne Airport of the error and they in turn contacted the pilot of the Air New Zealand flight which by that time was mid-way back to Christchurch.

The heating in the hold was turned on to help keep the intrepid feline comfortable for the remainder of her second journey, before she was met at the South Island airport and placed on another Melbourne-bound aircraft for her third flight inside 24 hours.

Starting a new life as a family

The Neas family had planned a new life in the Australian city of Melbourne and had booked a one-way ticket from their home in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Ms Neas explained how they waited patiently for their beloved pet to be unloaded, and several times were assured that Mittens would be along shortly and that it was normal for it to take a little time for animals to pass through.

Three hour wait… and still nothing

However, after around three hours they realised something just wasn’t right and approached the ground staff to get a full update.

It was then that it became clear that the cat had not been taken off the flight and worse still, it had now begun it’s return to New Zealand.

Hugely stressful time

The initial flight had taken around seven-and-a-half hours and add on the hour or so to unload, refuel and take off again, plus another seven-and-a-half hours on the return trip, it meant poor Mittens had been locked away in the hold for more than 16 hours.

Ms Neas said it was a very upsetting time and admitted she had some choice words for the airport staff. “I said, ‘how can this happen? How can this happen? Oh my God’.”

She explained how Mittens is very much a part of the family and therefore this was the worst possible start to what was supposed to be a new start in a new country.

“We didn’t have all the family together, we weren’t complete,” she said.

Cat-napping?

Apparently a stowed wheelchair had obscured the cage when baggage handlers unloaded the aircraft at Melbourne and seemingly Mittens had remained quiet, either through fear, or possibly having a good sleep!

Whatever the case, she was back in the air and heading “home” in what must have been a deeply unsettling period for her.

Third time lucky

After being alerted, the caring pilot on the Melbourne to Christchurch flight turned up the heating in the hold, realising that the low temperatures in there – it can drop down to 7C – would not be helping the stress levels of the unwitting fury traveller.

Once back in Christchurch, the obviously confused puss was met by the company Ms Neas had employed to take care of her transfer and they ensured she was safely put on the next flight back to Melbourne across the Tasman Sea, to be finally reunited with her family.

Relief all around

After almost 24 hours of flying, Mittens had lost weight, but was otherwise unharmed. “She basically just ran into my arms and just snuggled up in here and just did the biggest cuddles of all time,” Ms Neas said, before adding: “She’s getting as much attention as she wants right now, because we’re just so absolutely and utterly relieved to have her back.”

Air New Zealand apologised for the blunder and promised to work closely with the ground handler in Melbourne to ensure there is no repeat. They also confirmed that they would refund all costs associated with the animal’s travel.

Extra insulation comes in handy

 The Main Coon breed of cat hails from North America, originating in the state of Maine – hence its name. They are one of the larger breeds and had often been referred to as the “gentle giant” of the cat world and is actually often cited as having almost “dog-like” characteristics.

It has a dense water-resistant coat of fur that is longer and shaggier on their underside and rear. They also have a long and bushy raccoon-like tail that can be curled around their face and shoulders for warmth and protection from wind, or curled around their backside like an insulated seat cushion when sitting down around cold surfaces. Additionally, the Main Coon cat has overly furred ears, with extra long tufts growing from inside that help keep their tabs warm more easily.

All of these distinctive features would initially have evolved to help the breed survive in the harsh climate of Maine, but no doubt Mittens put the added layers to good use over the course of her remarkable 24-hour adventure.