Sometimes life’s best surprises come wrapped in fur—and in this case, nestled inside a fast-food run.
For J. Carter Gleason, lead singer of Treasure Island’s reggae-rock band Seranation, a late-night McDonald’s trip turned into a fateful meet-cute with a tiny ginger kitten.
What followed wasn’t just a rescue mission but the start of an unexpected partnership that’s hitting all the right notes.
The band was deep into recording their new track Meant to Be when hunger struck. Gleason volunteered to grab burgers and fries, but returned with an extra guest: a flea-ridden stray kitten tucked into his sweatshirt pocket.
Bandmate Bianca recalls the moment with a laugh: “I’m thinking about calling him French Fry—it’s such a J. thing to do. But honestly? It was the sweetest surprise.”
Dubbed “Big Mac” (a nod to his fast-food origins), the kitten quickly became Seranation’s unofficial mascot.
The band rallied together, scrubbing off fleas, stocking up on supplies, and even letting Mac nap through their late-night studio sessions. “Nobody questioned it,” Gleason said. “It was just, Alright, guess Jay rescued a cat today.”
Mac’s transition from scrappy stray to rockstar royalty has been seamless. He’s unfazed by blaring guitars, curls up in backpacks during errands, and even revisits his old McDonald’s stomping grounds for fry-sharing sessions.
“He’s a little Big Man now,” Gleason joked, noting how Mac’s grown into his name—and his role as the band’s resident vibe-checker.
But the real magic? Seranation’s new track, Meant to Be, took on a double meaning. “We were literally working on that song the night I found him,” Gleason shared. “Now Mac’s part of the crew—he’ll probably tour with us.”
From studio cuddles to future road trips, Mac’s proving that destiny doesn’t always need a roadmap. Sometimes, it just needs a drive-thru, a pocket, and a band willing to embrace the chaos—one purr at a time.