Road Trip Cat Lost in Canadian Wilderness Is Found Alive After 5 Months
In July 2025, a family road trip through western Canada took an unexpected turn during a stop in northern British Columbia. Shadow, a black-and-white tuxedo cat traveling with his owner, slipped out of a parked car near Liard Hot Springs Provincial Park. By the time anyone realized, Shadow had vanished into the surrounding wilderness.
After that, five long months passed with no sign of him, as the area grew colder and hope faded. Then, near the end of the year, Shadow appeared again.
Five Months in the Northern Rockies
Image via Getty Images/Tatiana Kuklina
Shadow’s owner, Jeremy Barton, was driving from Alaska back to Oklahoma as part of a relocation. After nearly a full day on the road, he stopped overnight near Liard Hot Springs, a remote area along the Alaska Highway in northeastern British Columbia.
During the stop, Shadow was outside his carrier inside the car. At some point during the night, he slipped out through a partially opened window. By morning, he was gone. Barton searched the area for hours, using food and familiar sounds, but Shadow did not reappear.
With no sign of the cat and a long journey still ahead, Barton eventually continued home, leaving Shadow behind in the Northern Rockies.
From July through November, Shadow survived alone in one of Canada’s most demanding environments. The area around Liard Hot Springs sees early snowfall, freezing temperatures, and active wildlife. The park sits far from towns, with dense forest and rugged terrain in every direction.
Despite those conditions, Shadow managed to endure. How he did it remains unclear. Reports indicate he was found alert and in good health, suggesting he adapted quickly and found enough food and shelter to last through the early winter.
No confirmed sightings surfaced during those months, despite Barton sharing photos online in the hope that someone nearby might recognize the cat.
The Call No One Expected
In November, park operators at Liard Hot Springs noticed a familiar-looking cat near the area where Shadow had gone missing. After reviewing the photos and contacting Barton, it became clear that the cat had survived for nearly five months in the wilderness.
The news brought relief, but was immediately followed by a new problem. Shadow was hundreds of miles from home, across an international border, with winter weather complicating travel.
Getting Shadow Back Home
Image via iStockphoto/Aleksey Matrenin
Two visitors to the park, Christine Sutherland and Bruce Kosugi, learned about Shadow’s situation and offered help.
They transported the cat south to Fort St. John, a city in northeastern British Columbia, where Shadow stayed temporarily while plans came together. The return trip required coordination across provinces and borders.
The plan involved flying Shadow to Winnipeg, then handing him over to Barton and his friends, who would drive him the rest of the way back to Oklahoma. The journey covered close to 4,000 kilometers, combining ground travel and air transport. Throughout the process, updates confirmed that Shadow remained calm and healthy.
A Rare Ending That Worked Out
Five months in the Northern Rockies would challenge most animals, let alone a domestic cat. Shadow’s survival highlights the adaptability cats can show under extreme circumstances, even when far outside familiar territory.
By December, Shadow was on the final leg of his journey home. After months of uncertainty, the road trip that went wrong ended with an outcome few would have predicted.