Bless Your Headlines: Purrfect Ending for a Traveling Cat

Every town’s got its local celebrity, but few are as beloved—or as dramatic—as Francine the calico cat from the Lowe’s in Richmond, Virginia. She’s got fans, a daily audience, and apparently, a flair for adventure that would make even Hemingway’s cats blush.

After vanishing for several weeks, Francine has returned home, purring and posing like the queen she is. Turns out, she’d hitched an accidental ride to another state—because who among us hasn’t wanted to escape early when Christmas decorations start showing up in September?

A Pawsitively Wild Ride

Francine’s grand adventure began in the most catlike way possible: curiosity and chaos. As the store was busy unloading its early holiday shipments—fake trees, tinsel, and probably 400 pre-lit snowmen—Francine decided to explore the backroom. Surveillance footage later revealed her slipping into a delivery truck, no doubt thinking she was headed toward the break room and a nap, not North Carolina.

Once the truck’s door shut, she was off—an 85-mile journey to Garysburg, where she eventually reemerged, dusty but dignified, at a Lowe’s distribution center. Honestly, it sounds like the plot of a Pixar movie waiting to happen.

Homecoming Queen of Aisle Seven

Two dedicated employees from the Richmond store made the 90-minute drive to retrieve their wandering mascot. When they returned, Francine was greeted like royalty—cameras flashing, employees cheering, customers tearing up. The store’s supervisor, Wayne Schneider, summed it up perfectly: “Francine is one of us.”

You’d think he was talking about a beloved coworker, and in a way, he was. Francine has become a fixture of the store, spending her days lounging by the customer service desk or napping in the seasonal aisle. She’s the kind of employee who brings morale up just by showing up—and doesn’t even need to clock in.

Now that she’s back, Francine’s soaking up every ounce of attention, stretching across checkout counters like she owns the place. Which, let’s be real—she does.

A Tale with a Tail

There’s something heartwarming about how much this little feline means to a big-box store. In a world where everything feels corporate and impersonal, Francine reminds everyone that even concrete aisles and power tools can feel like home when there’s a little heart—and fur—in the mix.

And isn’t that the lesson? No matter how far we wander—or how many trucks we accidentally stow away in—there’s always a place where we’re loved enough that people will come find us. Francine didn’t just make her way home; she reminded a community what loyalty, kindness, and a little humor can do.

Besides, it’s comforting to know that even cats occasionally make poor travel choices.

So here’s to Francine—the most famous employee at Lowe’s, the patron saint of wanderlust, and the only cat who could turn a supply truck into a rescue mission.

May her future adventures stay local, her naps be uninterrupted, and her kibble bowl always full.