So how did Willow the cat get from her home in Colorado 1800 miles east to the mean streets of Manhatten?

Friday's post was about her amazing journey and how she was found by a concerned citizen and turned over to Animal Care and Control of New York City. They discovered her micro chip and located her owners back in Colorado.

But how the heck did she get there?

A follow up Times article provided some speculation. Vets and other experts offered up some ideas ranging from walking to hitching a ride.

Considering her condition when they found her; apparently healthy and a little on the hefty side, I can't imagine she walked. It would be possible for a cat to make it fending for herself. They are very adaptable and they can hunt and fend for themselves if they have to, but I can't imagine she went that far on her own.

She did have five years to pull it off, but the obstacles would have been significant. The dangers of being a feral cat are simply too great, even if they have a home range. The lifespan of a feral cat is less than five years according to articles I've read. They get sick with an infectious disease or they get hit by a car or they get eaten by something larger, like a coyote.

Studies show that most lost cats don't get that far from home. Amazingly, many end up only a few blocks from home where they find a new food source. That new food source is usually a cat lover that starts feeding them and eventually takes them in. Cats aren't stupid, so why hit the road when you can find a sympathetic human in your own back yard.

I think the logical explanation is someone in the old owner's neighborhood took Willow in and they eventually ended up in New York with Willow in tow. She probably escaped from the new owners and ended up on the street in New York.

The follow up piece in the Times offered up a few other exotic theories. Maybe she hid out in the back of someone's pick up truck or even hitched a ride on a train. I find those ideas less than plausible. If that had happened I doubt if she would have stayed on board for 1800 miles.

However she made it the message for cat owners is pretty clear. Keep and eye on your cat, and the best way to do that is to keep them indoors. Granted, Willow was an indoor cat and did make an escape by accident, but with care the chances of that happening are slim.

The most common cause of an indoor cat making an escape is when visitors come by. In Willow's case it was a building contractor. It could just as well have been relatives or friends coming over for a visit. When you know that is going to happen be sure to take precautions.

If you are having guests for the holidays make sure they know you have a cat and the cat is supposed to be inside. Cats aren't wild about strangers visiting and they may use the intrusion as an excuse to bolt. Let you visitors know they have to be on the lookout for your cat.

A little advance planning can help keep your cat home safe and sound. If you have a pet insurance policy like PurinaCare plus Preventive Care be sure to take advantage of the benefits and have them micro chipped.

You don't want your cat ending up on the pages of the New York Times.