In early August, a family from Versailles, France, abandoned their planned mountain vacation to spend time living at an A43 highway rest stop near Lyon after their cat, Chanel, slipped out of her harness and vanished into the surrounding brush during a midday travel break.
From Alpine Route to Asphalt Outpost
What was meant to be an idyllic drive toward the SuperDévoluy resort in the French Alps took a sharp, stressful detour. The journey began in early August with father Stéphane, mother Murielle, and 29-year-old son Ewen in the vehicle, while daughter Lola (21) planned to arrive later by train. Tucked inside the car was Chanel, a cat belonging to the household.
At approximately 1:00 PM, the group pulled off at an A43 highway rest station close to Lyon to stretch their legs. Murielle secured Chanel with a harness and a leash. Despite these safety precautions, the cat managed to wiggle out of the restraint and scuttled underneath the car before bolting into the nearby greenery.
For the family, pressing on toward the mountains without their pet was never a viable choice. “Ferien werden wir noch andere haben, das ist nicht schlimm,” Murielle told the newspaper Le Dauphiné Libéré, explaining that while other holidays would come, Chanel was a family member who could not simply be left behind. Instead, they secured rooms at an adjacent hotel.
The Search at L’Isle-d’Abeau
For days, the family turned the rest area in L’Isle-d’Abeau, south of Lyon, into a search base. The family spent time at the rest stop, including night patrols, hoping to catch a glimpse of the missing feline.
Local media outlets, including n-tv.de and SWR3 POP, picked up the story as the search extended. Animal welfare volunteers joined the effort, and the family broadcast appeals across social media platforms. Despite being microchipped, Chanel remained lost.
As time passed, the family had to pack up and drive back to Versailles empty-handed. Yet, the physical distance has done nothing to close the case.
Continuing the Search From Afar
The ordeal left the family physically separated from their pet, but deeply committed to her recovery. Ewen Lelias posted specific guidelines for local residents and travelers on Facebook, urging people not to attempt active capture if they spot the animal. “Chanel hat die Raststätte mit hoher Wahrscheinlichkeit verlassen und befindet sich irgendwo in einer der umliegenden Ortschaften,” he noted, suggesting that anyone who sights her should provide food and report the location rather than chasing her.
Father Stéphane confirmed to the broadcaster BFMTV that the family intends to resume their physical presence at the site as soon as possible. Driving the distance from Versailles back to the Lyon rest stop remains a priority. “Sobald wir können, sobald wir Zeit haben und solange sie nicht gefunden ist, fahren wir hin,” Stéphane stated, cementing their resolve to continue scouring the region until Chanel is safely recovered.
