Stowaway kitten stuck in Amsterdam

A kitten which stowed away in her owner's suitcase has been stranded in Amsterdam after a 21-hour trip. Helen Wilmore, 36, found her three-month-old kitten, Beauty, who was bought as a gift for the family, after travelling to Amsterdam for weekend break.

But Beauty may never be reunited with her family due to the high costs of getting her back to the UK,



As she was packing her suitcase, Beauty was sleeping on her bed, but when the time came for Ms Wilmore to leave, she could not find the cat anywhere. Airport security staff failed to spot the kitten on their scanners and, because of flight delays, she was not discovered until 21 hours later when Ms Wilmore opened her case.

Ms Wilmore said: "After being delayed for so long, by the time I got to my cousin's house, all I wanted to do was freshen up so I opened my case and Beauty jumped out.



"I was stunned, I couldn't believe it. She was a bit hot and sweaty but other than that she was fine." Beauty had to be taken into Dutch quarantine, and cannot be reunited with her family in Bradford, West Yorkshire.

Ms Wilmore added: "It would be at least six months because of quarantine before I could get her back but she'd need lots of jabs and rabies checks then I'd have to get her a passport and pay for her to be flown back. I just can't afford it."