Lowe’s cat Francine found safe, returning to Richmond

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- After weeks of searching near Lowe's regional distribution center in North Carolina, Richmond's beloved Lowe's cat, Francine, was found safe. She's now heading home.

In an announcement on Monday, Oct. 6, Lowe's shared that Francine, a cat who has called the store located at 1640 W. Broad St. home for eight years, was found safe near Lowe's Garysburg, North Carolina distribution center after weeks of searching.

Francine reunited with a Lowe's associate on Sunday, Oct. 5, and Lowe's said she's heading back to the Richmond store that she calls home.

She was successfully trapped just before midnight on Saturday, Oct. 4.

(Photo: Lowe's)

(Photo: Lowe's)

The Richmond community, animal-centered organizations and Lowe's employees worked for weeks to find Francine after she wandered onto a semi-truck in September that then left the River City for N.C.

Thermal drones, professional trackers and video surveillance were used in the search effort.