By Dwayne Ferreira
Relief and joy for Sri Lankan pet owner Avishka Kaumadi as her beloved Persian cat is located at Dubai International Airport following a disappearance that raised serious questions over airline pet-handling procedures.
Video Courtesy: Avishka Kaumadi (Owner)
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — After ten agonising days of uncertainty, Simba, the orange Persian cat affectionately known as Chooty, has reportedly been found safe at Dubai International Airport, bringing a heartwarming development to a story that captured the attention of animal lovers in Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates and beyond.
A recovery announcement circulated on Wednesday, October 21, states that Chooty was located in the luggage area of Terminal 1 at Dubai International Airport.
The announcement identifies the animal by his distinctive orange Persian coat, orange collar and the last four digits of his microchip, 6744.
The news has brought enormous relief following a disappearance that raised serious concerns about airline pet-handling procedures and the responsibilities of ground-handling personnel.
Image Courtesy: Avishka Kaumadi (Owner)
Ten Days of Anxiety Finally Give Way to Relief
For Simba’s owner, Sri Lankan passenger Avishka Kaumadi, what should have been a routine journey home became an ordeal no pet owner would wish to experience.
On October 11, Kaumadi arrived at Dubai International Airport with her two-year-old Persian cat, having reportedly completed the necessary documentation and payments to transport him to Sri Lanka aboard SriLankan Airlines flight UL226.
According to her earlier account, Simba was inspected by ground-handling personnel and returned to his transport carrier following verification of his identification documents.
However, after Kaumadi cleared immigration, she was reportedly informed that her beloved cat had escaped from his carrier.
Refusing to abandon Simba, Kaumadi remained at the airport for approximately 28 hours, desperately seeking information and hoping that her missing companion would be found.
Despite initial searches, Simba remained missing.
What followed was a painful ten-day wait, accompanied by appeals for assistance, social media campaigns and growing public concern about how a pet entrusted to airport handling personnel could simply disappear.
Video Suggests Rat Traps May Have Played a Role in Simba’s Discovery
An intriguing detail has emerged following Simba’s recovery, with video footage reportedly showing what appear to be rat traps placed within the airport premises.
The footage has prompted suggestions that the traps may have played a role in locating or capturing the missing Persian cat after ten days.
However, it remains unclear whether these traps were deliberately placed as part of the search for Simba or were already present as part of routine pest-control measures within the airport.
There is also no independent confirmation that Simba was physically caught inside one of the traps, rather than discovered nearby.
The circumstances surrounding his recovery are particularly interesting, considering that Simba had reportedly remained somewhere within the airport environment for ten days without being located.
Questions also remain about how the animal managed to survive throughout this period, whether he had access to food and water, and whether he suffered any injuries during his disappearance.
While the footage may offer an important clue, the precise method of Simba’s recovery still requires confirmation from those directly involved in finding him.
A Search That United Animal Lovers Across Borders
Simba’s disappearance quickly attracted considerable attention on social media, with concerned individuals, animal welfare advocates and members of the Sri Lankan expatriate community sharing appeals for information.
The story was also reported by regional media outlets, bringing wider attention to the predicament faced by Kaumadi.
For many who followed the story, Simba was no longer simply another missing animal. He had become a symbol of the emotional bond between pets and their owners, and of the anxiety families experience when animals entrusted to professional transport services disappear.
Throughout the search, supporters expressed concern for Simba’s survival, particularly because a busy international airport presents numerous hazards for a frightened domestic animal.
The recovery announcement carried a heartfelt message of appreciation:
“Thank you everyone for your love, prayers and support!”
Another message accompanying the announcement stated:
“To everyone who helped, shared and cared… Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!”
Questions About Airport Pet-Handling Procedures Remain
Although Simba’s discovery is welcome news, his recovery should not overshadow the unanswered questions surrounding his disappearance.
The incident has highlighted important concerns regarding the handling, supervision and security of live animals during international air travel.
SriLankan Airlines had reportedly requested a detailed investigation from its ground-handling partner, dnata, into the circumstances surrounding the disappearance.
However, several important questions remain unanswered.
How did Simba escape from his transport carrier? Were appropriate safety procedures followed during the transfer process? How extensive were the initial searches, and could his disappearance have been prevented?
The circumstances of his eventual discovery also deserve clarification, particularly if traps were involved in locating or capturing the missing animal.
Establishing the facts is important not only for Simba’s owner but also for other passengers who entrust their pets to airlines and airport handling companies.
The recovery of a missing animal is undoubtedly cause for celebration, but the incident also presents an opportunity to examine existing procedures and strengthen safeguards against similar occurrences.
A Happy Ending After Ten Long Days
For Kaumadi and the many people who followed Simba’s disappearance, the announcement that he has been found alive represents a deeply emotional turning point.
The precise circumstances of Simba’s discovery, his veterinary condition and confirmation of his physical reunion with his owner have yet to be independently established.
Nevertheless, the news that he has survived the ordeal has brought renewed happiness to those who had feared the worst.
Simba’s story is also a reminder that pets are not merely items of cargo transported from one destination to another. They are living, breathing members of families, deserving of proper care, compassion and protection.
After ten days of searching, uncertainty and prayers, there is finally a reason to celebrate.
Welcome back, Chooty. Your disappearance raised important questions, but your reported recovery has brought smiles to countless faces.
Sources and Related Coverage
Dubai Newswire — Sri Lankan Woman Awaits News of Cat Missing at Dubai Airport, October 18, 2026.
Recovery announcement — Chooty Has Been Found!, October 21, 2026 (supplied image).
The Morning Telegraph — SriLankan Airlines Missing Cat Simba: Passenger Seeks Answers, October 16, 2026.
The Morning Telegraph — Second Cat Lost and Found at Dubai Airport, But Simba Still Missing, October 17, 2026.
Gulf News — Cat Goes Missing at Dubai Airport Before Sri Lanka Flight.
