John and Adrienne Kirby are desperate to find their son’s cat Charlie after it went missing at Cairns Airport

Cairns family in search for cat that went missing at Cairns Airport after it arrived from interstate. FIND OUT MORE.

ADORABLE cat Charlie was one moment away from being safe with family after a Virgin Australia flight from Adelaide to Cairns on Sunday night. But a car door left ajar at the point of handover spelt disaster.

John and Adrienne Kirby planned to receive their son’s cat from Menzies Aviation cargo handler at Cairns Airport. They were under the impression the carrier cage used to transport Charlie had been purchased by their son and they could use it to take Charlie home.

Instead, they say they were told by a Menzies Aviation staff member they couldn’t take the carrier cage with them and it would be opened by the staff member in Mr and Mrs Kirby’s car.

Charlie the cat bolted from her carrier cage in a distressed state at Cairns Airport on Sunday and has not been seen since. Photo: supplied.

Mr Kirby sat in the front seat of the car and Mrs Kirby in the back seat with their doors closed. The cage door was then opened by the Menzies Aviation staff member, but the distressed cat bolted out from the open door on the staff member’s side of the car, Mr Kirby said.

“Our son is absolutely devastated. Charlie is a much beloved cat,” said Mr Kirby.

“We’ve been back every morning and night with food and water. We’ve gone early when it’s quiet so we can try and hear Charlie, but we’ve not seen any sign of her.

“The dispatch company wouldn’t even supply us with a torch to find her. They offered us the carrier afterwards but it was too late by then.”

Mr Kirby’s son Richard is due to move to Cairns permanently and sent his Tabby cat in advance while co-ordinating the final logistic tasks of his relocation.

“We just wanted to care for Charlie while Richard was busy with the move,” said Mr Kirby.

Mr and Mrs Kirby are now considering legal action against Menzies Aviation.

They have posted an image of Charlie and contact details on the Cairns Animals Lost, Found, Rescue & Reunite Facebook page, a public group.

Charlie is described as “very timid, quite vocal”. She was last seen running into some bushes opposite “the Virgin pet pick up building”.

Sonya Horn is one of many citizens who saw Mrs Kirby’s Facebook post requesting help. She has since volunteered her time twice to find Charlie and plans to return over the weekend.

“I worked in the aviation industry for ten years and I heard so many nightmares about this kind of thing happening,” said Ms Horn.

“A lot of people are just unaware about what could go wrong when transporting pets on air cargo.

“What [the carrier] did was unacceptable. Ironically they let them leave the carrier out where the cat bolted with food … for three days in the end.”

Menzies Aviation said the incident has been referred to Virgin Australia and has refused to provide any further comment.

Virgin Australia has been contacted for comment.

Originally published as John and Adrienne Kirby are desperate to find their son’s cat Charlie after it went missing at Cairns Airport