diff --git a/doc/fixes34.2 b/doc/fixes34.2
index 60f2b6a02..b59bf3f74 100644
--- a/doc/fixes34.2
+++ b/doc/fixes34.2
@@ -113,6 +113,7 @@ use of stethoscope now deliberately impacted when hero is engulfed by whirly
 	monster but fixed so it can sometimes work on your steed there too
 typos fixed in data.base
 add freehand() check to able_to_loot()
+Schroedinger's Cat could be placed at wrong location when its box is carried
 
 
 Platform- and/or Interface-Specific Fixes
diff --git a/src/pickup.c b/src/pickup.c
index 71d390980..a85fa8859 100644
--- a/src/pickup.c
+++ b/src/pickup.c
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ STATIC_PTR int FDECL(in_container,(struct obj *));
 STATIC_PTR int FDECL(ck_bag,(struct obj *));
 STATIC_PTR int FDECL(out_container,(struct obj *));
 STATIC_DCL long FDECL(mbag_item_gone, (int,struct obj *));
+STATIC_DCL void FDECL(observe_quantum_cat, (struct obj *));
 STATIC_DCL int FDECL(menu_loot, (int, struct obj *, BOOLEAN_P));
 STATIC_DCL int FDECL(in_or_out_menu, (const char *,struct obj *, BOOLEAN_P, BOOLEAN_P));
 STATIC_DCL int FDECL(container_at, (int, int, BOOLEAN_P));
@@ -1981,6 +1982,47 @@ struct obj *item;
     return loss;
 }
 
+STATIC_OVL void
+observe_quantum_cat(box)
+struct obj *box;
+{
+    static NEARDATA const char sc[] = "Schroedinger's Cat";
+    struct obj *deadcat;
+    struct monst *livecat;
+    xchar ox, oy;
+
+    box->spe = 0;		/* box->owt will be updated below */
+    if (get_obj_location(box, &ox, &oy, 0))
+	box->ox = ox, box->oy = oy;	/* in case it's being carried */
+
+    /* this isn't really right, since any form of observation
+       (telepathic or monster/object/food detection) ought to
+       force the determination of alive vs dead state; but basing
+       it just on opening the box is much simpler to cope with */
+    livecat = rn2(2) ? makemon(&mons[PM_HOUSECAT],
+			       box->ox, box->oy, NO_MINVENT) : 0;
+    if (livecat) {
+	livecat->mpeaceful = 1;
+	set_malign(livecat);
+	if (!canspotmon(livecat))
+	    You("think %s brushed your %s.", something, body_part(FOOT));
+	else
+	    pline("%s inside the box is still alive!", Monnam(livecat));
+	(void) christen_monst(livecat, sc);
+    } else {
+	deadcat = mk_named_object(CORPSE, &mons[PM_HOUSECAT],
+				  box->ox, box->oy, sc);
+	if (deadcat) {
+	    obj_extract_self(deadcat);
+	    (void) add_to_container(box, deadcat);
+	}
+	pline_The("%s inside the box is dead!",
+	    Hallucination ? rndmonnam() : "housecat");
+    }
+    box->owt = weight(box);
+    return;
+}
+
 #undef Icebox
 
 int
@@ -1992,7 +2034,8 @@ register int held;
 #ifndef GOLDOBJ
 	struct obj *u_gold = (struct obj *)0;
 #endif
-	boolean one_by_one, allflag, loot_out = FALSE, loot_in = FALSE;
+	boolean one_by_one, allflag, quantum_cat = FALSE,
+		loot_out = FALSE, loot_in = FALSE;
 	char select[MAXOCLASSES+1];
 	char qbuf[BUFSZ], emptymsg[BUFSZ], pbuf[QBUFSZ];
 	long loss = 0L;
@@ -2024,38 +2067,9 @@ register int held;
 	current_container = obj;	/* for use by in/out_container */
 
 	if (obj->spe == 1) {
-	    static NEARDATA const char sc[] = "Schroedinger's Cat";
-	    struct obj *ocat;
-	    struct monst *cat;
-
-	    obj->spe = 0;		/* obj->owt will be updated below */
-	    /* this isn't really right, since any form of observation
-	       (telepathic or monster/object/food detection) ought to
-	       force the determination of alive vs dead state; but basing
-	       it just on opening the box is much simpler to cope with */
-	    cat = rn2(2) ? makemon(&mons[PM_HOUSECAT],
-				   obj->ox, obj->oy, NO_MINVENT) : 0;
-	    if (cat) {
-		cat->mpeaceful = 1;
-		set_malign(cat);
-		if (Blind)
-		    You("think %s brushed your %s.", something,
-			body_part(FOOT));
-		else
-		    pline("%s inside the box is still alive!", Monnam(cat));
-		(void) christen_monst(cat, sc);
-	    } else {
-		ocat = mk_named_object(CORPSE, &mons[PM_HOUSECAT],
-				       obj->ox, obj->oy, sc);
-		if (ocat) {
-		    obj_extract_self(ocat);
-		    (void) add_to_container(obj, ocat);
-		    /* weight handled below */
-		}
-		pline_The("%s inside the box is dead!",
-		    Hallucination ? rndmonnam() : "housecat");
-	    }
+	    observe_quantum_cat(obj);
 	    used = 1;
+	    quantum_cat = TRUE;	/* for adjusting "it's empty" message */
 	}
 	/* Count the number of contained objects. Sometimes toss objects if */
 	/* a cursed magic bag.						    */
@@ -2070,12 +2084,14 @@ register int held;
 	    }
 	}
 
-	if (loss)
+	if (loss)	/* magic bag lost some shop goods */
 	    You("owe %ld %s for lost merchandise.", loss, currency(loss));
-	obj->owt = weight(obj);
+	obj->owt = weight(obj);	/* in case any items were lost */
 
 	if (!cnt)
-	    Sprintf(emptymsg, "%s is empty.", Yname2(obj));
+	    Sprintf(emptymsg, "%s is %sempty.", Yname2(obj),
+		    quantum_cat ? "now " : "");
+
 	if (cnt || flags.menu_style == MENU_FULL) {
 	    Strcpy(qbuf, "Do you want to take something out of ");
 	    Sprintf(eos(qbuf), "%s?",