A cat was found hiding as a stowaway in someone’s checked luggage when it was discovered by Transportation Security Administration agents who rescued the feline. The cat was orange and was found in the suitcase at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.

An X-Ray Machine Revealed the Cat

According to TSA spokesperson Lisa Farbstein, the stowaway cat had climbed into the luggage of a passenger without their knowledge. The cat was found after the suitcase went through the X-ray machine. Together with the furry feline, the bag contained several bottles and a glass. The JFK airport TSA officer was shocked to discover the cat during the scan with the X-ray unit. According to the traveler to whom the luggage belonged, the cat was not theirs and was probably away from home. So, the cat was rescued from the bag and safely brought back to its owner.

The TSA Agents Have a Sense of Humor

After the incident, the traveler re-booked his flight and got on their way the next day. The Transportation Security Administration agency jokingly added that felines who have any questions about traveling should reach out to them, pointing out the hours they were available. Apparently, this wasn’t the first time a furry stowaway had been caught by the agency. Last year, they found a Chihuahua after it had snuck into its owners’ suitcase. The dog, named Icky, was discovered thanks to the owner doubting the weight of their bag. This took place when they tried to check in for a Southwest Airlines flight from Texas to Las Vegas.

Fortunately, travelers who want to fly with their pets can easily do so, but there are policies that vary by airline. Carrying pets on flights is often accompanied by fees, and there are some breed restrictions. The TSA also has a helpful guide that is full of both useful directions and adorable pet-centered jokes for the amusement of proud pet owners.

Some 80 sculptures in Ketchikan, Alaska tell the ancestral stories of Indigenous clans. These represent the world’s largest collection of standing totems and they tell different stories. Indigenous peoples have been carving totem poles in the area for thousands of years, and those standing now are preserved and watched over by an organization dedicated to sharing Southeast Alaskan Native culture.

Standing Totem Poles Tell Stories

According to the mythology of the Tlingit people, long ago a Raven wanted to marry Fog Woman, who was the daughter of Chief Fog-Over-The-Salmon. After the chief granted his permission, the Fog Woman and Raven lived happily for the next two seasons. However, in the winter, a food shortage tested the couple with hunger. Raven struggled to find food, so Fog Woman wove a basket and filled it with water. When she washed her hands in the basket, Raven saw salmon swimming inside, and that was the first salmon ever created.

Still Visiting the Ketchikan Community

Fog Woman kept producing salmon this way, and for a time, she and Raven lived happily once again. Eventually, the two began to fight. One time, Raven got angry and he hit Fog Woman’s shoulder with dried salmon. Fog Woman would not stand the disrespect and left with Raven chasing after her. However, every time Raven tried to grab her, his hands would go through her, as if she was made of fog. Finally, she reached the water and all the salmon she had dried went with her. While Raven never saw Fog Woman again, salmon comes rushing back every year to feed the community of Ketchikan.

The Ancestral Traditions of the Tlingit

Today, the legend of Raven and Fog Woman is memorialized in one of the most prominent totem poles in Ketchikan, Alaska. It’s a 55-foot-tall Chief Johnson pole. The current iteration is a replica built in 1989 by Tongass Tlingit carver Israel Shotridge. It sits outside the former home of Chief George Johnson, next to Ketchikan Creek, which is their ancestral fishing grounds. The original pole was carved by an unknown person and is currently held in storage at the Totem Heritage Center. It was raised in 1901 and stood until 1982. It was then removed and replaced for the replica.

Chief Johnson’s totem pole is just one of more than 80 standing totem poles scattered around Ketchikan in southeastern Alaska. More are carved and erected every year as artists honor respected community members. Totem poles are part of a rich tradition in Ketchikan and an important part of Tlingit culture. They represent the ancestral traditions of the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian people, and Chief Johnson’s pole is made from one single western red cedar log.