American Airlines said it is searching for a cat lost at a New York airport while employees were scrambling to prepare for Hurricane Irene.

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The airline apologized Monday to Karen Pascoe, 42, after her cat, Jack, was lost by airline workers before her Thursday flight to California from John F. Kennedy International Airport, the New York Daily News reported Tuesday.

Pascoe's sister, Mary Beth Melchior, said she set up a Facebook page, "Jack the Cat is Lost in AA Baggage at JFK," after Pascoe was unable to get any response from the airline for more than 60 hours after the cat got loose. The Facebook group attracted more than 1,000 members within 24 hours and they flooded the American Airlines page with messages about the missing cat.

The airline said Monday it has put out food, water and humane traps in an attempt to find Jack.