99-year-old woman wakened by kinkajou curled up on her chest

An elderly Miami woman woke up with quite a fright late Monday night when she was awakened by a strange animal curled up on her chest and caressing her face.

The mysterious animal was a kinkajou, an exotic nocturnal creature related to the raccoon that is native to Central and South America.

Family and friends of the unnamed 99-year-old woman said she screamed and called them in a panic, sending the kinkajou into hiding.

“I was awakened by a phone call at 2 a.m., which is never good news. And it was my terrified mother-in-law,” Carlos Aguaras told NBC Miami.

They lured the animal out from the attic using kinkajou sounds found online, and had it checked out by doctors at the South Dade Avian & Exotic Animal Medical Center.

Ray Fernandez, the owner of the kinkajou, was reunited with his pet after he saw the story of elderly woman in the news.

“I can’t believe it,” he said. “I thought she was lost forever.”

Fernandez said he had moved the animal to his brother’s home temporarily as his house was being renovated and she had escaped.