WINNING POWERBALL TICKET IS LOST…FOUND WEEKS LATER BY THE CAT

WALLINGFORD, Conn. — July 7, 2025 — If a cat finds a winning lottery ticket purchased on Friday the 13th, is it superstition or fate?

If you ask Russell Ruff of Somers, the word he’d use is “miraculous”—after the family cat led them to a Powerball ticket they believed was lost.

“We lost the ticket at home. It went behind a headboard, and we didn’t think too much of it… we didn’t really check the numbers,” recalled Russell.

He says the ticket was discovered when the cat somehow made its way behind a bed, prompting Russell and his sons to maneuver it in order to retrieve the feline. In the process, they found the cat—and the ticket.

After scanning (and rescanning, just to be sure) using the CT Lottery app, Russell learned the long-lost ticket was a winner worth $150,000.

“It was a miracle,” said Russell.

He had originally purchased the ticket on Friday, June 13, just for some superstitious fun. The Powerball drawing took place the next evening Russell’s ticket ended up matching four of the five winning numbers plus the Powerball. He was just one number away from the jackpot. Since he added Power Play, his prize increased from $50,000 to $150,000.

Russell is a school bus driver in Somers and a regular player of the CT Lottery. He purchased the ticket at Small Town LLC on Main St. in Somers.

Congratulations to Russell, his family, and their 16-year-old cat!

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Overall odds of Powerball are 1 in 24.9. Jackpot odds 1 in 292,201,338. Purchasers must be 18 or older. Help is available for problem gambling. Call (888) 789-7777 or visit ccpg.org.

About the Connecticut Lottery Corporation

The Connecticut Lottery Corporation (CLC) is a quasi-public state agency committed to generating revenue for Connecticut in accordance with the highest standards of public policy and social responsibility.

In fiscal year 2025, CLC awarded more than $1.3 billion in prizes, paid $81.9 million in commissions and incentives to its network of more than 2,800 retail partners, and contributed approximately $362 million to the state’s General Fund. Through the General Fund, CT lottery dollars support services and programs that benefit Connecticut residents and communities, including education, public health, public safety, and libraries.

Since 1972, the Lottery has contributed nearly $12 billion for the State of Connecticut.

Lottery purchases are limited to adults age 18 or older. Players must be at least 21 to place sports wagers.Help is available for problem gambling. Call (888) 789-7777 or visit ccpg.org.