Many cat parents are happy to share a beds with their pets, but you might not be expecting a feline friend to join you when you’re staying in a hotel.
That’s what happened to one couple in the UK, however, as they stopped overnight at a Premier Inn while driving down the country. Sarah and Paul Shepherd, 50 and 52, broke up their journey from Doncaster in the north of England to St Ives in the south and were getting off to sleep at around 3am when a cat jumped through their window.
The cat then climbed onto the bed with Sarah saying, via the Somerset County Gazette, “He was wandering around purring and then jumped onto the bed and walked all over my husband Paul and head bumped him, rubbing his head on Paul's face.
"I was so shocked there was a cat in the room. I sat on the bed, and he ran to me purring. I checked him over, looking for any injuries, and checked his collar. He was a neutered male and had a pink collar on, which made me smile. We had no idea where he had come from or how to get him out of the room."
After they posted on local Facebook groups in the hope of finding the cat’s owner, the couple decided they were happy to let him stay overnight – he went under the covers and lay between them.
Once Sarah woke at 6am, she posted an update on Facebook to say that the cat was still with them, and shortly after, a friend of Sue, Winston’s cat mom, got in touch. Sue had been up all night looking for the 12-year-old feline, and the hotel’s receptionist brought her to the couple’s room. The hotel later took Sue’s number in case Winston decided to visit the hotel again.
She said, “Winston doesn’t usually wander too far from home and we live [about 0.5 miles from the hotel]. The hotel staff could not have been any better, they were amazing."
Sarah added, “As a cat person who has always had cats, I know the worry when they don't come home. I also used to do home checks for Doncaster Cats Protection.
"I was so relieved I had found his mom. We then continued on our travels, and we're enjoying our holiday. Winston was the perfect surprise guest, and we enjoyed his cuddles."
While it’s quite unlikely that a surprise cat will come and join you on your travels, you might be thinking of traveling with your own cat. You might find this article useful: Everything I wish I'd known before I traveled with my pet so that you don’t make the same mistakes I did
