A cat who went missing after escaping a damaged crate after 14-hour flight from Abu Dhabi to New York about last week has been found. Felix was discovered at JFK airport after being on the loose for more than two weeks. The cat's owners, Jennifer Stewart, 31, and her 34-year-old husband, Joseph Naaman, were left devastated after their beloved pet when missing from his damaged crate. Jennifer Stewart and husband, Joseph Naaman, pictured with their cat, Felix, who disappeared April 1 . Facebook updates: Ms Stewart updated her friends after hearing the news that Felix the cat had been found . The couple had launched a desperate search for their pet after he disappeared following a 14-hour flight from Abu Dhabi to New York. Felix the cat was missing for more than two weeks after he escaped from his crate, which was damaged in transit. The two-year-old grey tabby's crate was travelling in an airline-approved carrier but it was damaged so badly – apparently while being transferred from the plane  – that Felix was able to get out and run away. Found! Felix the cat was discovered at JFK airport after being on the loose for more than two weeks . The releaved couple were alerted that a cat had been been found at the New York airport . The couple updated their Facebook profiles to announce the good news. They wrote: 'FELIX HAS BEEN FOUND!!! We got word earlier this evening that a cat had been humanely trapped in the area the scent dogs in last week's search were most interested in... And the cat is FELIX!!!!' Jennifer later added: 'Joe picked him up at JFK and they are on their way home to Princeton right now. So HAPPY!!!! Thanks to everyone for your help and positive energy these last two weeks! We're incredibly grateful for such love & support! xo' Jennifer and Joseph never gave up hope and planned to return to the airport to search for Felix . The couple was told that the plastic crate broke open after one of the ropes became tangled on something . At the time of the disappearance, Jennifer had told MailOnline Travel that she wasn't satisfied with the way Felix's crate was secured and transported on the Etihad Airways flight. She said his crate was tied down to a large metal pallet and cracked open, apparently when one of the straps got caught on something as it was being moved to a cargo bay after the April 1 flight. She said: 'To find out how he was transported, I was horrified, I was sick. They basically strapped him in like he was an old box. 'If I had known he was going to travel like that we would have looked for other alternatives. 'He is a part of our family. He's like a dog. He plays fetch and hide and seek, and he's the coolest little cat.' Jennifer wasn't sure which company was responsible for transferring Felix from the plane, but a cargo manager called her and her husband into an office after they landed to deliver the bad news. 'We were in shock that this happened. At first I thought he was going to tell me that [Felix] died. 'He told me his cage was crushed.' Felix's plastic pet carrier was tied down to a metal pallet while he was transported on the plane . Felix the cat disappeared after his crate was damaged after a flight from Abu Dhabi to New York . While in Abu Dhabi she had spent weeks researching the best way to transport Felix and she initially booked a ticket with a different airline, but there was a problem with the reservation and she was forced to switch to their flight and Felix's to Etihad Airways. Jennifer, a yoga instructor, and Joseph, a strategy consultant, couple spent $1,200 (£800) to bring Felix  to the US with them after living in the United Arab Emirates for three years. They adopted him seven months ago after they found him wandering on the street in their Abu Dhabi neighbourhood, and they never gave any thought to leaving him behind. The couple adopted the two-year-old cat seven months ago after he was abandoned in their neighbourhood . Jennifer and Joseph have enlisted the help of a non-profit organisation to locate the cat at JFK Airport . The couple never gave up hope that Felix would be found, and sought help from a non-profit organisation, Where Is Jack?, which provided a dog that is trained to track down animals based on their scent. They had previously searched the airport, but were initially unable to access secure areas. An Etihad Airways spokesperson told MailOnline Travel at the time of the disappearance that it was investigating Felix’s disappearance and continuing to search for the cat. The spokesperson said: ‘We are working with the ground handlers and other third-party specialists, paid for by Etihad Airways, to locate the cat. Etihad Airways said it is working with ground handlers and 'third-party specialists' to find the cat . ‘We deeply regret this unfortunate incident and are keeping the owner apprised of the progress of the search. ‘We will review our pet handling procedures in the wake of this incident, as the safety and care of pets travelling with Etihad Airways is a top priority.’ Etihad cargo carries more than 200 animals each year and it is ‘extremely rare’ for one to escape, the spokesperson added.
Felix the cat was found two weeks after going missing in transit . Much loved pet disappeared after escaping his plastic crate at JFK Airport . Owner Jennifer Stewart said the crate was badly damaged in transit . She is calling for better policies and procedures for the transport of pets . Etihad said it is working with ground handlers and 'specialists' to find Felix .