Francine the cat, a Richmond icon who went missing from the Broad Street Lowe’s in Virginia on September 18, has been found safe and is back home after a two-week ordeal that captured hearts across the city and far beyond.
Her disappearance sparked a viral rescue mission, with thousands of Richmond residents and cat lovers across the world rallying online to help bring her back.
The Instagram account @WheresFrancine was created after the cat went missing on September 18. Through daily updates, petitions, and coordinated outreach, the page became the center of a grassroots campaign to track and find missing Francine, quickly gaining more than 33,000 followers.
Francine, estimated to be around 12 years old, has been part of the Lowe’s Broad Street location since 2017. Though standoffish at first, she warmed to customers and staff, eventually becoming the store’s unofficial mascot. Lowe’s employees cover her food, veterinary bills and annual vaccinations, making her a permanent fixture of the garden center.
For Richmonders like Elise Gilmore, 25, Francine is more than just a store cat. “I met Francine when I moved to Richmond in 2022,” she told Newsweek. “I quickly became familiar with where she would hang out and where she is fed so I could find her when I go visit.”
Gilmore and her friend Chas launched the Instagram campaign not only to raise awareness but also to secure access to the Lowe’s distribution facility where Francine was last seen. The strategy worked when Lowe’s corporate granted access and confirmed her first sighting.
“When Chas and I started the Instagram, our main goal was getting the word out about Francine’s disappearance to our Richmond community,” Gilmore said. “We knew the more eyes we had on the story, the more likely it was that someone would see her.”
Newsweek reached out to Lowe’s via email for comment.
Francine Returns
On October 6, Gilmore announced the good news that Francine had been found safe and well.
Now back in Richmond, Francine is resting after what organizers called “a long business trip.” Supporters are being asked not to overwhelm her with visits while she recovers, but a celebration of her return—“Francine Fest”—is expected soon.
“Thank you to every single community organization and individual person who worked to make this happen,” the Instagram team wrote. “Our community is strong, and our hearts are exploding with joy.”
The response to the good news was huge online as people shared their reactions in the comments. “The way I feel, you’d think Francine was my cat that had been lost! Bless everyone that helped!” said one commenter.
Another wrote: “This is the best news of all time”
“I am jumping with joy!” said a third follower. “Good job to all of those involved.”
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