A Cat Got Loose on a Plane and the Flight Attendant’s Reaction Was Pure Gold
Most flights during the Thanksgiving season run on tight nerves, with everyone just trying to get from one place to another without extra surprises. That’s why the mood on a Southwest flight from Los Angeles to St. Louis shifted so quickly when a loose cat suddenly appeared in the aisle. Instead of adding stress, the little escapee broke the tension on board. The flight attendant’s quick, funny response turned the moment into something the whole cabin shared, and the clip spread online as soon as it landed.
The Thanksgiving Cat Caper
@abc7chicagoA Thanksgiving-week flight from Los Angeles to St Louis took an adorable turn when a Southwest Airlines attendant was spotted walking down the aisle holding a wandering cat. Footage filmed by Instagram user @jaytom531 on November 26 shows the attendant holding the gray pet while searching for its owner. “While flying home for Thanksgiving on Southwest Airlines from LAX to STL, the flight attendant announced that they found a cat and went up and down the aisle looking for the cat’s owner,” he told Storyful. “Passengers giggled and found it funny, it took a moment before the owner claimed their kitty.”♬ original sound – abc7chicago
A cat had slipped out of a carrier on a Southwest Airlines flight on November 26 during the rush between Los Angeles and St. Louis. It was packed with travelers heading home, many of whom were already bracing for long lines and heavy delays. Once free, the kitten wandered up the aisle until a flight attendant scooped him up.
Instead of rushing the cat back to its owner, he carried on with the usual pre-departure checks while holding it gently against his uniform. People around him couldn’t help laughing. Someone took out their phone, and the moment quickly made its way online. One clip even included an announcement joking that the “missing cat has been located again,” which set off another round of laughter in the cabin.
Reactions rolled in online. People commented on the kitten’s relaxed face and how he seemed content in the middle of a packed plane. Some joked that the cat looked more prepared for takeoff than half the passengers. One person even shared a memory of jolting awake on a red eye and realizing the pet escape announcement was aimed at them.
The Flight Attendant Who Understood the Assignment
Image via iStockphoto/Andrii Yalanskyi
What made the moment hit so hard was the flight attendant’s calm, cheerful reaction. He walked the aisle as if carrying a co-worker instead of a lost pet. Those on board said his smile didn’t budge. Several viewers pointed out how naturally he held the cat, as if this cameo belonged in the safety routine.
For a holiday week full of travel headaches, his attitude reset the energy in the cabin. A loose pet could create worry, yet this interaction leaned into humor and warmth. Even passengers who weren’t cat fans seemed to enjoy the distraction.
Cats Keep Slipping Into Travel Headlines
This incident wasn’t the first time a Southwest traveler found themselves dealing with a surprise feline twist. In December 2024, a woman said she was removed from a flight after her kitten had a bathroom accident in its carrier during a rough landing. The airline later gave her a travel voucher and rebooked her. Mishaps like that illustrate the unpredictability of bringing a pet on board, even when following all the rules.
Southwest allows small, vaccinated cats and dogs inside the cabin on domestic flights. The airline charges a $125 fee each way, and pets must stay in an approved carrier that fits under the seat. Even with those guidelines, curious animals sometimes manage to slip out, as every pet owner already knows too well.
This year’s loose cat episode stood out because it shifted the mood during one of the busiest travel weeks of the year. By the time the owner realized the cat was theirs, the entire plane had become part of the search. The cat was returned to the carrier, the video kept climbing in views, and a flight full of tired travelers got a story better than the usual complaints about delays or cramped seats.