The Queenstown Cat Rescue tabby, adopted by Belinda Lee Ricketts during the 2020 lockdown, decided to give his legs a break last Wednesday morning, jumping on board an Orbus in his neighbourhood, meandering to a back seat, and curling up for a cheeky catnap.
After a bus passenger interrupted him from his slumber, Rubei, who is about 2½ years old, thought he might check out the CBD, hopping off at the Stanley St bus stop.
But town resident Summer Campbell foiled his impromptu expedition, although instead of calling in claw enforcement, she took him to her work.
Ms Campbell managed to track down Ms Ricketts through the Queenstown Cat Rescue Facebook page within about 90 minutes.
Ms Ricketts was "so grateful" to the people who looked after her furever friend, who has epilepsy.
"Rubei is such a social butterfly.
"It’s not the first time we have suspected him riding the bus and got a phone call to pick him up from town ... He keeps us laughing."
