QUEENS, N.Y. — The cat's been let out of the bag, according to Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents at the John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City.
According to a spokesperson for the TSA, an officer was "shocked" to discover the orange feline tucked inside a bag after it went through an X-ray unit.
The traveler, who was headed to Melbourne Orlando International Airport, reported the cat belonged to someone else in his household and he did not know it had made its way inside his luggage.
When reached by KVUE on Tuesday, a TSA spokesperson said they were unaware whether an animal-related agency was contacted for a potential animal cruelty violation, but they did confirm that cat was alive when it was discovered.
The TSA did report that the cat was returned home "safely" and that the traveler rebooked his flight.
In an update on Monday, Nov. 28, TSA said the cat, named Smells, enjoyed a meal at home in Brooklyn on Thanksgiving.
"Apparently Smells was planning to chase after a big mouse he heard was running around Disneyworld," a spokesperson said.