A five-month-old kitten named Magnolia has gone from being stolen from a pet shop and unwittingly taken into an attempted bank robbery to finding a loving new home.
The tuxedo kitten was taken from a Pet Supplies Plus store in Beltsville, Maryland, last month. Moments later, the man who stole her reportedly walked into a nearby PNC Bank while still carrying the cat and handed a teller a note reading, “This is a Robbery”.
Police find the kitten safe inside the bank
Prince George’s County police arrived at the bank and arrested the suspect. When Stephanie Stullich, whose nonprofit Beltsville Community Cats had rescued Magnolia, reached the scene, she was relieved to learn that the kitten was safe in a manager’s office.
Magnolia appeared unfazed by the extraordinary ordeal. She was returned to the pet shop, where she unexpectedly became the centre of attention.
Her strange story wins many hearts
More than 20 people applied to adopt Magnolia after news of her unusual adventure spread. The rescue group ultimately chose Kaylei Roldan, who had already applied to adopt the kitten before she was stolen.
Roldan had seen Magnolia’s photograph online and wanted a companion for another tuxedo kitten, Kuro. When she later saw a news report about the stolen kitten involved in the attempted bank robbery, she realised it was Magnolia.
She met the kitten on July 19 and immediately knew she wanted to take her home.
Magnolia finally gets a happy ending
Magnolia now lives with Roldan in Laurel, Maryland, where she enjoys cuddles, chicken-flavoured treats and time with Kuro.
PNC Bank also donated $150 to Beltsville Community Cats, matching the rescue group’s kitten adoption fee.
After such an unusual beginning, Magnolia appears to have left her brief brush with crime behind. She now spends her days playing, climbing her cat tree and enjoying a peaceful life with her new family.
As Roldan jokingly put it, Magnolia has “retired” from planning bank robberies and is happy simply staying home with Kuro and eating treats.