Stowaway Cat 'Doing Well' at Baldwin Park Shelter After Voyage from Philippines

A resilient kitty who survived a sea journey from the Philippines to the U.S. with no food or water is said to be doing well at the Baldwin Park Animal Care Center and will be available for adoption soon, officials said.

County officials are looking for a home the 4-year-old domestic short-haired cat that survived an estimated three weeks without anything to eat or drink inside a shipping container on the 6,400 mile nautical journey.

"Pinay is doing well at the County of Los Angeles - Baldwin Park Animal Care Center and will be in the Department's care until she is ready for adoption," animal care officials said on Facebook Tuesday.

Workers who opened the container on July 16, which was shipped from Manila to a business in the 100 block of South Grand Avenue in the City of Industry, found the feline and called the Department of Animal Care and Control.     

"The cat was very weak and frail," said Marcia Mayeda, the department's director. "It is amazing that this cat could survive the almost 6,400 nautical-mile journey by sea without food or water."     

The orange and white female has been named Pinay (pronounced "Pin- eye") by staffers at the Baldwin Park Animal Care Center's medical unit. Pinay is a common term for a female Filipino, according to DACC's senior veterinarian Dr. Maria Sabio-Solacito, a native Filipino.     

"We wanted to give her a name which kept her close to her roots," Sabio-Solacito said.     

Pinay has been getting stronger and putting on weight since she was discovered two weeks ago, and has just cleared her quarantine, Mayeda said.     

Animal care officials are reaching out to possible adopters, but warn that Pinay may be a bit skittish after all she's been through.

"It is important that potential adopters or foster families have considerable experience dealing with skittish cats," Mayeda said. "Pinay has been though a lot and needs a calm, loving family to help her transition."    

Interested adopters may email daccevents@animalcare.lacounty.gov. 

– City News Service contributed to this report.