Stowaway kitten survives trip from Shanghai to Los Angeles in shipping container

This photo provided by the Department of Animal Care and Control shows a kitten that survived an ocean voyage from Shanghai to Los Angeles locked in a shipping container without food or water, July 11, 2012. / AP/Dept. of Animal Care and Control

(AP) CARSON, Calif. - A 3-month-old kitten survived a journey across the Pacific, traveling from Shanghai to Los Angeles without food or water while locked in a freight container on a ship.

The orange-and-white short-haired kitten traveled 6,500 miles before arriving Wednesday.

It was unclear how many days the kitten was in the container. The trip can take as long as 21 days, according to freighter-travel.com.

The stowaway was retrieved from the container at a Compton-area business where it was delivered.

Los Angeles County animal control officers are cautiously watching his health.

The kitten is quarantined, which is standard procedure after entering the U.S. from another country.

The kitten ate and slept well at the Carson Animal Care Center, said animal control director Marcia Mayeda. He was alert and responsive Thursday.

Mayeda says workers named him Ni Hao (NEE'-How), which means "hello" in Mandarin Chinese.

When Ni Hao recovers, gets his shots and is neutered, the shelter will look for foster and permanent homes.

[audemus]

I'm not that much of a fan of cats, but I'm pulling for the little guy.

[formerlyluvnut]

Had he stayed there he would probably have been someones dinner eventually.

[robert_holt]

"Well, I guess I strayed too far from my mother in Shangha. I was only part way down the street then this lady that appeared nice offered me a bowl of milk. I licked up some of some of the milk and then I started feeling woozy. The next thing I know, I wake up in America."

[MojitoMamma]

Thanks a million to the folks who saved Ni Hao. God Bless you all.

[Chengisk]

What ni hao gets amnesty just like that? :O

[matt6052]

Kitten requested culinary asylum.

[blurkosphere]

If this cat is anything like mine, it probably had plenty of food, just not her favorite brand.

[blurkosphere]

If this cat is anything like mine, it probably had plenty of food, just not her favorite brand.

[ThrMeldrich]

Hug!

[itznews2me]

At last! An import from China! So happy he found caring folks.