Chester the office cat unexpectedly crosses into Washington in shipping container

VANCOUVER – Chester the cat is back at his office home after an adventure last month.

The six-year-old tabby is the company cat at Russell Freightways in Tilbury, Delta, but the employees became concerned when Chester went missing.

“On a Friday afternoon he was here,” says dispatcher Alex Russell. “And then on a Monday afternoon he was not here.”

“And then a week later we found out he was in Fife, Washington.”

It turns out Chester had wandered into a neighbouring company’s container filled with cloth. That container was then sealed and Chester and its contents were shipped across the border to the small community south of Seattle.

The company received a call that Chester was inside when crews opened the container in Fife.

Russell and his wife travelled to Fife on their 34th wedding anniversary last month to get Chester.

“He just melted into my arms,” says Russell. “He was so happy.”

All of the staff are very happy to have him back.

“He has a job, he has a very important job,” says owner Alida Russell . “He collects any rodents that come into the warehouse. He gets them for us.”

Now that he’s back Chester appears to be a changed cat. Before he left he would not sit on anyone’s desk or anyone’s lap, but staff say he is now much more affectionate.

“He’s my buddy,” says Russell. “Wouldn’t you do that for your friend? Friends and family? He’s like a little family to us around here. He keeps the morale up.”