Two weeks ago we posted a story about Junie, a tabbie in Bakersfield, Calif., who was grabbed by an Amazon driver making a delivery at her family’s home.
The Ring camera video clearly shows the driver delivering a package, picking Junie up and walking off with her. In the intervening time, the family has released the video, spoken to local media, filed a report with police and implored Amazon to help them get their cat back.
Amazon shifted the blame to a local contractor that employs delivery drivers, saying the driver is actually an employee of that company despite wearing an Amazon uniform. Police say the investigation is ongoing.
But now the driver has come out publicly and said that, actually, Junie is his cat, and actually, he just happened to deliver a package to the home of the family who allegedly took her.
“I was just doing my regular route. I approached the house. I got Brenda’s package, and I took it like a normal day,” Joshua Gonzalez told KGET, the local NBC affiliate in Bakersfield.
Brenda Wilson is Junie’s caretaker who previously spoke to the same news team about the alleged theft.
The document Gonzalez produced says the feline was a stray adopted on Oct. 9 of 2025, but Gonzalez said he never got around to naming her. Referring to the cat variously as “him,” “her” and “it,” he said he was thinking of naming “him” Spartan.
“I heard a meow,” he said of the moment he delivered the package. “I recognized it was my cat because of the distinct design it had on its forehead. It has the ‘M,’ the eyes, and how the body was set. I knew it was my cat. So I just grabbed him and walked off.”
Gonzalez says he adopted the cat for his seven-year-old daughter.
Aside from the incredible coincidence of supposedly finding his cat during a random work delivery, and the odd detail about not naming a cat that he says had been in his home for at least six months — as well as his apparent uncertainty about the feline’s gender — the document Gonzalez produced does not include a photo of the animal.
Then there’s the fact that literally all domestic tabby cats have the “M” marking on their foreheads, which is the most clear sign they’re tabbies. It’s not clear if Gonzalez thinks the mark is unique, and the news team didn’t ask the obvious question.
Wilson’s been in touch with Gonzalez and his family. She says she’s had Junie for five years, says Gonzalez used to live in her neighborhood, and has gotten nowhere with attempts to get Junie back.
“We’ve had some back and forth with them and they really are saying this is their cat, and I don’t know if it’s a cover, [if] they just really wanted her, or if they really do think this is their cat,” she said. But, she noted, “it’s an easy fix,” meaning the police can quickly determine who Junie/Spartan belongs to by looking at photos, timestamps, vet and adoption records.
Gonzalez told KGET he realizes the video of him taking the cat “looks bad,” but said neighbors should not jump to conclusions.
“I want them to know I didn’t do anything bad but get my cat back, and now it’s in its rightful home, it’s back where it belongs,” he said. “Like anybody else would do, if they lost their cat and they see it on someone else’s porch, they would do the same thing.”
A couple thoughts here: in addition to the unlikely coincidence that someone would randomly discover their missing cat this way, not bestowing a name on a pet he’s allegedly had for seven months, and the inconclusive document, the video does not show surprise on Gonzalez’s face, nor does it show any hesitation or effort on his part to look at the cat closely.
Instead, he goes immediately from scanning the package and placing it down to picking the cat up. Then just walks off. Even when he pauses momentarily, it’s to look at his phone, not the animal.
You’d think that, if he really did serendipitously discover his own missing pet, there’d be visible surprise or a reaction on his face. You’d think he’d take a long look at the cat just to make sure it really is his. You’d think he’d knock on the door or at the very least leave a note instead of just walking off with the cat. And if this really happened the way Gonzalez says it did, wouldn’t he have told his employer so there’s no misunderstanding?
None of that happened, according to the media reports, the video and Gonzalez’s own words. Of course, Gonzalez could be telling the truth. Stranger things have happened. But the burden of proof is on him here.
I have written in the past about people who aren’t sure if they’ve recovered their own cat, and while I’ve said I’d know Bud instantly — and I maintain I absolutely would, because of his behavior and demeanor as well as his appearance — I’d still be shocked at finding him that way.
If he were missing, I would be overjoyed at finding him. Thrilled. Ecstatic. I’d probably act like a complete idiot, pick him up, spin around and kiss his little forehead. And he’d definitely react, trilling out a “Servant! Where have you been?!? This period of separation has been unacceptable and intolerable! Return me immediately to my proper domicile, where I expect you will have my preferred meal and be ready to ply me with snacks and catnip in profound apology for allowing this ghastly ordeal!”
Okay, so maybe people wouldn’t understand that bit of dialog, but I sure as hell would get his meaning, and I am absolutely a thousand percent sure that’s how he’d react. We’d both be ecstatic about being reunited.
I’d also have a mountain of proof: literally four cell phones’ worth of camera roll photos, several hundred photos from my Canon, neuter and vaccination records, receipts from the emergency vet, Chewy records listing an obscene amount of turkey orders, poorly Photoshopped images of him committing various heroic deeds with timestamps dating back more than a decade, and an entire blog dedicated to glorifying him as a meowscular, handsome and inimitable little fellow. But that’s just me.
A spokesperson from the local sheriff’s office told KGET they’re still investigating the alleged theft. I hope that’s true, and I hope they take this seriously. Regardless of US law’s archaic view of pets as property worth a fixed, cheap value that does not take sentiment into consideration, serving the public means setting things like this right. If one party doesn’t like what the police decide, they can go to court.
But for the sake of Junie and her family, they need to get this settled, and quickly, before the feline disappears.
Pain In The Bud 
Very easy to prove that bs. Go to vet and get records. No records? NOT HIS CAT. And is this person still employed by Amazon?
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He works for a subcontractor and Amazon says they are no longer allowing him to deliver packages for them. Not sure what his status is with the company he actually works for.
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Maybe the only way to deter these people is to fire them no matter who hires them. I know someone who has a trucking business. This person has cats and dogs. Ass would be fired asap if any of thier drivers stole an animal.
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The M? LMAO!!!
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Yeah that narrows it down to about 10 million cats.
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That guy is a little off his rocker. If he really wants a cat, he could adopt one, there are plenty of cats out there waiting to be adopted. There’s no need to hurt a cat that already has an owner. Poor Junie, I hope they return her to her real home.
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That’s the thing, it’s not like there’s a shortage of cats who need homes.
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This is unacceptable and a clear case of blatant theft!
*Its a sad time when the family cat is not safe to sit on their own porch without an Amazon driver takingthem without any repercussions. *
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These are weird crimes of impulse and opportunity that are difficult to understand. I’ve gotta reach out to a criminologist to see if there’s a psychological explanation for why people do this.
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The cat thief claims Junie is his cat but doesn’t seem to know the cat’s gender. Is he even sure Junie’s a cat? I’m being facetious, but this guy’s story is unbelievable.
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Not naming the cat all those months doesn’t make sense either. If he adopted the cat for his 7-year-old daughter, surely she’s been calling the cat something.
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Yep. Also his daughter’s phone should have loads of pictures of the cat.
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To Quilpy. Too bad Junie is not a feral. Would of bit and scratched him. Know what would happen if some stranger picked up my feral Bootsy? He allows me to touch him and he rubs himself against my legs but i could never pick him up. He actually is semi- feral.
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I’m wondering if the cat has an identifying chip? This is so distressing to me. People may not agree but the best way to prevent this is to keep your cat inside.
I don’t believe the driver at all. He doesn’t know the sex of the cat for a start. Like Buddy’s guardian, I have photos and videos of all of my cats from just about every angle. Anyone who is familiar with Tabby cats knows that looking at the standard head “M” means nothing, identification wise.
What is also apparent is that we need stronger punishment for pet napping!
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“Servant! He is my servant! I am HIS guardian because I’m, like, an intimidating tiger and stuff.” — Buddy
Now that’s cleared up, yes, we absolutely do need stronger laws. I wrote about the UK’s Pet Abduction Prevention Act and related legislation here, explaining why we need a similar law in the US:
The short version: US law views pets as property, UK law recognizes them as sentient beings with their own feelings, and recognizes they have enormous emotional and sentimental value to their families.
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My most sincere apologies, Master Buddy! I had a semi-senior moment. 🫢 I also forgot you exercise editorial control over this blog.
To your servant, yes, I’ve read your prior posts regarding the UK laws. I’m in complete agreement with their view and again, my apologies to your master.
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Translated from the original Buddinese: “You are forgiven, human. Buddy is magnanimous, in addition to using the third person to refer to himself.”
Anyway, this is a good reminder for me to look for attempts at reforming the old animal laws. I know the focus has been on banning declawing and that’s where the majority of lobbying efforts are concentrated, for good reason, but if there’s an effort to change the property aspect of the law, I would like to help push it.
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No kidding. I was wondering if she was chipped too. They haven’t mentioned it anywhere. Who has a pet that isn’t chipped nowadays? I know in MN, you can’t adopt a pet without a chip. It’s mandatory. Same with spay/neuter.
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What in the hell are the police doing in their “investigation”? How many documents, photos, vet bills, etc, do they need to go and get that cat? This jackass stole Junie and he has no proof she’s his. If she’s considered property, then go get her and give her back to her owners. That’s what they do for property crimes. And as far as her being his cat? Yeah right! I’d love to tell him, “Hey dumbass, she looked like your cat, right? You know what? She looks just like my first cat Fleabag. Was Fleabag your cat too?” Telling tabbies apart is hard unless they have some kind of really distinct marker on them. I’d know my 2 cats anywhere because they have distinct marks on them and they’re not tabbies. They’re also chipped.
Also, why no mention of a chip? If there was one, there would be no doubt who she belongs to. Even so, if they have 5 yrs worth of documentation from the vet that should end this.
I also want to add, why are people still letting their cats sit out on the front porch when this kind of crap is going on? Just because it hasn’t happened to you doesn’t mean it won’t happen to you. I feel for this family and I hope they get their beloved Junie girl back soon.
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Unfortunately we don’t know anything more than the local sheriff’s office says they’re working on it. I’m sure it’s especially frustrating for the family.
I will update ASAP when there’s more.
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Oh I bet it is. That family is going through hell while the police dick around. By the time they finally figure out that she does belong to that family, she could be long gone (f this guy is being this big of an asshole, I wouldn’t put it past him to take her and leave the area).
I feel so bad for them. I know what it’s like when your kitty’s gone and you have no idea where they are. My experience only lasted 3 days, and it was the worst feeling you could ever have. The not knowing. I can’t imagine what it’s like in their house after this much time has gone by. Especially when they know he’s lying and no one is doing anything. Frustrating doesn’t even begin to cover it.
Please do update us on this. I think everyone here would love to hear when Junie’s been returned to her family.
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