Amazon driver claims cat taken from porch in Bakersfield, California, is his pet as custody battle ensues

An Amazon delivery driver accused of taking a cat from a West Bakersfield, California, porch says the animal actually belongs to him, setting off a pet custody dispute. Joshua Gonzalez, the Amazon driver at the center of the controversy, insists the cat known as Junie is his family’s missing pet. Gonzalez has said he recognized the cat immediately during a delivery and believed he was reclaiming an animal that had disappeared earlier.

The incident in question occurred in Bakersfield in May 2026, when home surveillance footage captured a delivery driver picking up a cat from a front porch after dropping off a package. The video quickly spread online and sparked accusations that the driver had stolen the animal.

Brenda Wilson, the woman who says Junie belongs to her, has disputed Gonzalez’s claim. She maintains that she has cared for the cat for approximately five years.

Conflicting timelines and a recognizable “forehead design”

Gonzalez has publicly defended his actions, telling local media outlet KGET that he did not believe he was stealing a pet. According to multiple reports, Gonzalez presented adoption paperwork from October 9, 2025. The paperwork directly challenges Wilson’s five-year ownership claim

Gonzalez claimed he knew the cat was his based on its unique forehead pattern, eyes, and distinct build. “I knew it was my cat. So I just grabbed him and walked off,” Gonzalez told KGET.

As of mid-June 2026, Bakersfield media or law enforcement have not announced who legally owns the cat. Amazon responded after the surveillance video gained widespread attention online.

A company spokesperson said the driver’s behavior did not meet Amazon’s expectations for delivery personnel. According to reports published June 15, Amazon terminated Gonzalez’s employment.

Gonzalez told KGET the cat is currently living with his family, “happy” and playing with toys. He also noted that his family hadn’t officially settled on a name for the cat but were leaning toward “Spartan,” and they believe the cat is a male.

Wilson told local media that Junie had become part of her household and that she wants the cat returned. Wilson publicly announced that her family will drop the tracking charges if Gonzalez safely returns the cat. Reports say social media posts shared by supporters of the woman have described efforts to work through official channels to recover the animal.

The Kern County Sheriff’s Office is handling the case as an open investigation into the “theft of a cat,” according to The Independent. Gonzalez has not been charged with any crime.