RICHMOND — After weeks of frantic searching, Francine, the beloved Richmond cat who calls a local Lowe’s home, has been found.

Francine had been missing since Sept. 18 when surveillance footage showed Francine walking onto a freight truck in the store’s receiving area and being accidentally carried to a Lowe’s distribution center in Garysburg, North Carolina.

Local groups in Richmond, including a “Where’s Francine” Instagram account, began spreading the word in late September, calling for help from Lowe’s corporate and others. Local organizations Richmond SPCA, Richmond Animal Care and Control, SOS Cats RVA and Best Friends joined in the effort to find Francine.

In North Carolina, North Hampton County Animal Control set humane traps at the distribution center. Signs and flyers with Francine’s picture were posted throughout the facility.

In addition to 246 cameras monitoring the distribution center, Lowe’s brought in thermal drones to scan the area.

Days passed, and reports of possible sightings trickled in, but nothing could be confirmed. Then, on the evening of Oct. 4, a familiar face appeared on camera near the distribution center.

It was Francine.

“I can’t describe the feeling when we realized it was her,” Mike Sida, the Lowe’s store manager, said. “We all just lit up.”

Sida and store associate Wayne Schneider immediately gathered a small team and traveled to the distribution center. They brought along Francine’s favorite food and her dish, knowing the familiar rattle might draw her out.

Meanwhile, additional cameras and seven additional humane traps were installed, with Lowe’s maintenance associate Robert Keeter volunteering to check each trap through the night.

A little before midnight, their feline friend emerged. Francine was outside one of the traps, but didn’t go in.

Moments later, a trap triggered.

Francine was safe and sound, meowing to let everyone know she was ready to put an end to this adventure and go home to Richmond.

“When I received the text that we got her and she was safe, I just couldn’t stop smiling,” said Schneider.

At 4 a.m. on Monday, Schneider and Sida got in their car and made the 90-minute drive to Garysburg to pick up Francine.

“‘We were so excited the whole ride — it didn’t matter how early it was. We were going to bring her home,” Schneider said.

On Sunday, Oct. 5, when she jumped into the waiting arms of Schneider, that initial reunion said it all.

“She looked at us,” Schneider said, “and gave this big meow like, ‘What took you so long?’”

Soon, Francine will be back to her routine: greeting customers, exploring the aisles and soaking up more affection than ever.

“We care for Francine so much, and we’re so thankful for everyone who helped, from our associates to animal control and our neighbors,” Sida said. “She’s more than our store cat — she’s part of our family.”

“We’re overjoyed,” Elise Gilmore, one half of the Instagram account @whereisfrancine, said. “It’s very exciting. And a great way to start the week.”

Gilmore says that Francine is currently at the vet getting checked out but she is in good health. She requested the community give Francine some space when she returns to her post at Lowe’s.

“She’s obviously had a long and startling journey. I want to make sure that she’s well rested and receives the space that she deserves.”

But there are plans to celebrate the hometown hero’s return.

Gilmore says they are planning Francine Fest, partnering with a local brewery giving 10% of the event proceeds to the SPCA, who played a huge part in helping bring the feline home.

She said the Lowe’s managers traveled to North Carolina on three different occasions to try and find her.

“We’re all extremely excited, and there’s been some happy tears this morning.”

https://www.pilotonline.com/2025/10/06/missing-lowes-cat-francine-returns/