The Can Opener Was Already Headed to California. The Cat Was in the Ceiling.

A cat named Claire picked the worst possible moment to disappear. According to Fairfax County Animal Services, Claire got startled while her family was in the middle of moving. She slipped out of her room into the laundry room and climbed up into the ceiling.¹

Her family was set to travel cross-country in less than 24 hours.¹

The county’s account of the rescue ends with a reunited family. It also works as a practical guide for anyone packing boxes with a pet in the house.

Traps, ceiling cuts and a fire crew

An Animal Services Officer first helped set humane cat traps, which catch an animal without hurting it. Claire got the food and escaped the trap anyway. The county called it a furry Houdini move.¹

The next morning, an officer spoke with the family to work out a plan. By then it had been more than 24 hours since they had last held her.¹

Claire’s dad worked with contractors to cut slots into the ceiling to look for her. Fairfax County Fire and Rescue also stopped by to help but had no luck finding her.¹

The firefighters did find an expanded crawl space that couldn’t be reached from outside. The county described it as a perfect hiding place for a scared cat.¹

Hours after the family’s planned departure, the moving truck was already on its way to California. In another room, the county wrote, Claire’s siblings were meowing sadly.¹

Tuna and a borrowed can opener

According to the county, Claire is a big fan of fish but only eats chicken or beef because her siblings don’t like fish.¹

So the bait would be the one food that never went in her bowl.

Claire’s dad rushed to the store for several cans of tuna to reset the traps. That ran into a problem anyone who has packed a kitchen will recognize: the can opener was on the moving truck to California. A neighbor who knew about the situation lent one.¹

The Animal Services Officer reset the traps and double-checked that they were secure.¹

The next day, the county got a message from what it called an exhausted but very happy, reunited family. The tuna had worked, and Claire was safe.¹

Claire’s mom said she plans to keep a collar and tracker on all her cats.¹

Tips for moving with pets

Fairfax County Animal Services used Claire’s story to share a few reminders for pet owners:¹

• Double-check where your pets are before opening or closing doors.
• Make sure collars are secure and tag information is current.
• Keep microchip information up to date.
• Use the county’s bi-monthly vaccine and microchip clinics.

The county says its officers are ready to help any time, any day. Residents who see an animal in need can call 703-691-2131.¹