An airline traveler in Norfolk, Virginia, apparently thought it was a good idea to send their pet cat through the checkpoint X-ray machine while clearing a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security screening.
While some may wonder why a TSA agent would allow that — there’s no shortage of federal agents at American airports — TSA Public Affairs spokesperson Lisa Farbstein saw the humor in the situation, taking to Twitter to share the X-ray image and call the screening a “cat-astrophic mistake!”
“Just when you thought it was safe to bring your pet cat on a trip…, she tweeted. “A traveler left their pet cat in its travel carrying case at a @TSA checkpoint this morning at @NorfolkAirport. Attention pet owners: Please do not send your pet through the X-ray unit. Cat-astrophic mistake!”
Just when you thought it was safe to bring your pet cat on a trip. . . A traveler left their pet cat in its travel carrying case at a @TSA checkpoint this morning at @NorfolkAirport. Attention pet owners: Please do not send your pet through the X-ray unit. Cat-astrophic mistake! pic.twitter.com/tko6DP2vXx
— Lisa Farbstein, TSA Spokesperson (@TSA_Northeast) March 3, 2023
For the record, Farbstein reassured social media users that the cat was okay, explaining that the cat was removed from the travel bag and then went through the “proper” screening.
Yep. The traveler and cat had to go through screening the proper way once the TSA officers saw the X-ray image. The proper way being to remove the cat from the travel bag.
— Lisa Farbstein, TSA Spokesperson (@TSA_Northeast) March 4, 2023
While some on social media took issue with the lighthearted attitude of the TSA spokesperson, others couldn’t resist adding to the hilarity of it all.
Here’s a quick sampling of responses to the story from Twitter:
Agreed. It’s not humorous at all and it seems TSA is making a joke about it.
— Shannon Clark (@herdgirl_77) March 6, 2023
If the cat is ok, why was it a “Cat-astrophic mistake!’’
— Greg Carlisle (@gregcarlisle) March 6, 2023
Believe it or not, this is technically not a CAT scan.
— Viento Negro (@keixajau) March 5, 2023
I work for tsa. I hate to say this is fairly common, unfortunately.
— Jack (@JackBeQuick84) March 6, 2023
I have never seen a true cat scan until today
— mphillips (@mpheartdoc) March 5, 2023
When I was trying to get through with two cats I was denied a private screening AND had my hands swabbed while trying to hold the two cats out of the carrier. Explain why TSA wants cats loose in the airport so badly?
— Sitanni (@Sitanni) March 6, 2023
Good thing there are 8 left..
— Steve (@QusAble_history) March 6, 2023
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Tom Tillison grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills. Tillison also contributes to BizPac Review.
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