Staff At Denver Thrift Store Discover Unsettling Surprise In Donated Chair

When a generous family in Colorado chose to donate their well-used recliner to a Denver thrift store, they never imagined the chair carried more than just cushions and springs. 

Tucked away deep within the cosy folds, completely out of sight, was their beloved ginger cat, Montequlla. Unbeknown to his owners, he had quietly claimed the recliner as his private hideaway, curling up inside while they prepared for their move, ready for an unplanned adventure.

The family was in the middle of a hectic move when Montequlla slipped away unnoticed. By the time they realised he was missing, the recliner had already been dropped off at the Denver Arc Store. Heartbroken, they searched everywhere for him but couldn’t find a trace.

Fortunately, fate intervened. Not long after the chair arrived, a sharp-eared thrift store worker heard faint meowing coming from inside. 

They carefully investigated and discovered the source — a friendly orange tabby, trapped but unharmed. Wasting no time, the staff contacted Denver Animal Protection Shelter for help.

Officer Jenna Humphreys remembers the scene vividly:

“Sure enough, there’s a recliner out front, and there’s a little orange tabby stuck inside. Very friendly, but couldn’t get out. They [store staff] said that they had noticed the meowing shortly after somebody had dropped it off.”

With patience and gentle coaxing, Jenna and her team managed to carefully guide Montequlla out of his unusual hiding spot inside the recliner. Once he was safely in their arms, a quick scan of his microchip revealed the contact details of his worried owners, instantly setting the wheels in motion for a heartwarming reunion.

Meanwhile, the family had been in a state of panic, searching every corner of their home, checking under furniture, and scouring the neighbourhood in the hope of spotting their beloved ginger cat.

They had called out his name, knocked on neighbours’ doors, and even left food outside, but there was no sign of him. Little did they know, Montequlla had been on a secret recliner-bound adventure the whole time, just waiting to be discovered.

Only when they heard from Denver Animal Protection did everything click into place — Montequlla had chosen the recliner as his safe spot during the chaos of moving, and that same chair had ended up at the thrift store.

When they arrived to collect him, the relief was overwhelming. Tail wags and happy tears marked the moment Montequlla was back where he belonged.

Jenna took the opportunity to share an important reminder for pet owners:

“Oftentimes, when we have a stressful event like that, we know that animals can seek hiding spots. So, this one just happened to pick the recliner that they were going to donate to Arc. It’s not uncommon for us to be called to help remove animals from those situations, but this was a new one.”

The story of Montequlla’s accidental adventure ended with smiles all around. What began as a worrying disappearance became a heartwarming reminder of the special connection between pets and their people — and the unexpected places those bonds can lead.