KITTANNING, Pa. (KDKA) – A Pennsylvania family’s vacation plans changed to include their cat when they found him on the roof of their van after driving 100 miles from home.
The Denardo family was all ready for their big trip to New Hampshire for a marathon then on to New York City. They said their goodbyes to their pets and locked up the house, but little did they know, one family member had a secret plan: Ray Ray the cat had no intention of being left behind.
As the family’s van rolled out of Kittanning, Pennsylvania, climbed hills and sped down Interstate 80 at 70 miles per hour, Ray Ray was there with them – on the roof.
“We had driven for two hours and needed to stop for gas,” Mara Denardo said. “My husband gets out of the car to pump the gas and is like, ‘The cat is on the roof.’”
In that moment, panic turned to pure disbelief and then laughter. Against all odds, Ray Ray had survived 100 miles of wind, bumps and highway traffic. He wasn’t phased and clearly ready for an adventure.
“We’re like, ‘What do we do? We’re already so far into the trip, and we have a long way to go to get to New Hampshire.’ So, my husband said, ‘He’s just going to have to come with us,’” Denardo said.
After a quick pit stop at the pet store, Ray Ray was now officially part of the trip. From running across the marathon finish line with his dad to sightseeing in the Big Apple from the comfort of his cat backpack, he stole the show everywhere he went.
“He had such a good time and a great adventure,” Denardo said.
She posted photos and videos of Ray Ray’s wild trip online, and now, people all over the country are falling in love with the fearless feline.
Ray Ray’s story also inspired his mom to write a children’s book series. The first book, “The Cat Who Wouldn’t Stray,” celebrates his brave spirit and the family who followed his lead on the trip of a lifetime from a 100-mile rooftop ride to the top of the Empire State Building.
“It’s called ‘Ray Ray’s Cattastic Adventure Tails,’ and then, each series can be a different place that he went,” Denardo said.
From stowaway to storybook star, Ray Ray’s unexpected journey reminds us that some of the best adventures in life are the ones we didn’t plan for.
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