Cat Left at Yellowstone Makes Way Back to Northern California

A 1,000-Mile Journey for One Tough Feline

A cat named Wrinkles, who was left behind at Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming over the summer, has made his way back to his home in Northern California. Wrinkles' journey took him over 1,000 miles, and he lost a significant amount of weight along the way. But thanks to the help of animal welfare organizations and a lot of determination, Wrinkles is now back home safe and sound.

Wrinkles' Story

Wrinkles' adventure began in June when his owner, Jennifer Koenigs, took him on a family vacation to Yellowstone. Koenigs said she had planned to leave Wrinkles at home, but he snuck into the car and they didn't discover him until they were already on the road. Koenigs said she didn't want to leave Wrinkles in an unfamiliar place, so she decided to take him with her.

However, when they arrived at their campsite, Koenigs realized that Wrinkles would not be able to handle the long hikes and camping conditions. She made the difficult decision to leave him at the park, hoping that someone would find him and take care of him.

Wrinkles was on his own for several weeks before he was finally found by a park ranger. The ranger took Wrinkles to the park's animal shelter, where he was scanned for a microchip. When Koenigs' information came up, the shelter staff was able to contact her and let her know that Wrinkles had been found.

The Long Journey Home

Koenigs was thrilled to hear that Wrinkles had been found, but she was also worried about how he would get back to California. She contacted several animal welfare organizations, but none of them were able to help. Finally, she found a volunteer who was willing to drive Wrinkles back to California.

The journey took two days, and Wrinkles was very anxious the entire time. He didn't eat or drink much, and he lost a significant amount of weight. But thanks to the volunteer's patience and care, Wrinkles finally made it home safe and sound.

A Happy Reunion

Koenigs was overjoyed to see Wrinkles again. She said he was very thin and tired, but he was also very happy to be home. Koenigs said she is grateful to everyone who helped Wrinkles on his long journey home.

"I'm so grateful to the park ranger who found Wrinkles and to the volunteer who drove him back to California," Koenigs said. "I'm also grateful to all of the people who donated money to help pay for Wrinkles' care. It was a long and difficult journey, but thanks to the help of so many people, Wrinkles is now back home safe and sound."