**Francine the Calico Cat Returns Home to Lowe’s Store in Virginia After Weeks Missing**
Francine, the beloved calico cat of a Lowe’s store in Richmond, Virginia, has returned home after going missing for several weeks. The adventurous feline hitched a ride on a truck that eventually arrived at a sister facility in another state, sparking a heartfelt search and rescue effort.
Two employees from the Richmond Lowe’s made the 90-minute drive early Monday to pick up Francine, who had disappeared in September. She was recently discovered at Lowe’s distribution center in Garysburg, North Carolina. By Tuesday, Francine was back on the job—playing with customers, posing for photos, and soaking in affection.
“Francine is one of us,” store supervisor Wayne Schneider shared in a telephone interview. “She’s just amazing. What she means here to the store and the employees, you really can’t imagine the outpouring that the employees and also the customers give her daily.”
Francine typically spends much of her time either at the customer service desk or in the store’s seasonal area. However, things took an unexpected turn in September when the store brought in items for the upcoming Christmas season. Store General Manager Mike Sida believes the disruption may have prompted Francine to seek comfort elsewhere.
After employees had not seen Francine for several days, they reviewed past surveillance footage. The videos showed glimpses of her in the appliance section and later in the receiving department, where she darted into a truck. An overnight manager then closed the truck’s door, and it departed for Garysburg, approximately 85 miles (137 kilometers) to the south.
“When she got down to the distribution center, she shot off the truck,” Sida explained. “That’s when we found out where she was and she was missing.”
In response, an animal control officer set up humane traps at the distribution center, and photos of Francine were posted throughout the facility. The center, equipped with dozens of monitoring cameras, also saw the deployment of thermal drones to survey the area. Meanwhile, an Instagram account dedicated to finding Francine—unaffiliated with Lowe’s—grew to more than 34,000 followers.
On Saturday, Francine was spotted on camera near the distribution center. After more humane traps were installed, a volunteer checked each trap throughout the night. Finally, one of the traps triggered, and Francine’s meows were heard.
Schneider and Sida then drove to Garysburg early Monday to retrieve the cat. “That ride going down, knowing that we were going to get her, was just heartwarming,” Schneider said. “Knowing she’s safe and that she’s coming back to the store to get off her two-week vacation.”
Francine began her life at the Lowe’s store more than eight years ago as a stray. Cats are common sights around feed stores and garden centers, which often contain grain and seed that attract mice and rats. In New York City, cats are cherished fixtures of bodegas and delis.
“At the Lowe’s store, Francine just showed up,” Sida recalled. “We had a bit of a mice problem. So, of course, I’m like, wow. I like this cat a lot because it’s helping me.”
Lowe’s does not have an official policy regarding cats in stores. When asked why Francine was not taken to someone’s residence after she arrived, Sida explained that she is beloved by both employees and the community.
“Francine picked us. We didn’t pick her,” Sida said. “Later, we would embrace her being our store cat. But at the end of the day, she came to us. Where she’s at is where she wants to be. She does whatever she wants.”
Unlike Lowe’s employees, Francine does not wear a vest. She had previously worn several collars but managed to escape all of them. The store now plans to fit her with a harness that includes identifying information.
To celebrate Francine’s homecoming, a local brewery will host a “Francine Fest” community event on Wednesday. The Lowe’s store is also planning its own team party in her honor.
Francine’s story highlights the special bond between community and store, proving once again that sometimes the best coworkers come with paws.