When workers at an Amazon warehouse in Long Island, New York, noticed a fluffy gray cat hiding beneath one of their delivery trucks, they thought he was just another stray looking for shelter.
For weeks, the little visitor lingered around the lot, darting under vehicles and accepting food from kind employees — but never venturing far.
Eventually, the staff realized the cat wasn’t leaving on his own. So they reached out to local animal rescuer John Debacker for help.
Armed with patience — and a few tasty treats — Debacker managed to coax the frightened cat out from under the truck and safely secure him. As always, his next step was to scan for a microchip, expecting it would lead to an owner nearby.
But the result made him stop in his tracks.
The microchip didn’t trace back to New York — or even the United States.
It came from Bermuda, an island more than 700 miles away.
“I was shocked,” Debacker told The Dodo.
Curious to know more, Debacker reached out to the Bermuda SPCA, who helped identify the cat as Frankie — a friendly senior feline who had once lived a long way from where he was found.
How Frankie ended up beneath a delivery truck in New York was anyone’s guess.
“We’re not sure if he was a stowaway or if his family moved to the States and he got loose,” Debacker told Bermuda Broadcasting.
A vet visit confirmed that Frankie was about 15 years old, yet still full of life and affection. “He’s a very sweet cat — a total purr machine,” Debacker said.
Determined to piece together Frankie’s past, Debacker connected with rescues across the world. Bit by bit, an unbelievable story unfolded.
Frankie had been born in the United Kingdom, then moved to Bermuda, later re-homed to a family in Turks and Caicos, before being transferred again to South Carolina — where he was surrendered to a shelter. From there, he was rescued by a New York group in 2017, completing a journey that spanned thousands of miles and several countries.
Because of his extraordinary travels, rescuers affectionately nicknamed him “Mr. Worldwide.”
Now, after years of wandering, Frankie’s long adventure is finally nearing its happy ending. He’s safe and loved at Last Chance Animal Rescue, where he’s waiting for a quiet forever home to spend his golden years.
This well-traveled cat has had enough excitement for one lifetime — and now, all he wants is a soft bed, a steady routine, and someone to love him for good.
You can follow John Debacker on Facebook to see more of his heartwarming rescues.
