Kitten’s Cries Lead To Dramatic Drain Rescue In Orlando
A recent incident in Orlando, Florida, set off an unexpected rescue mission. It all started when a woman noticed a small kitten suddenly dart across the road in front of her. Concerned for the little one’s safety, she decided to stop and look for it.
As she searched the area, faint but urgent cries began to echo from a nearby storm drain. The sound grew clearer the closer she got, and it quickly became obvious that someone was in trouble and in need of immediate help.
After further investigation, the woman realized the desperate cries belonged to a young kitten who was trapped in a drain, unable to get out.
Without hesitation, the woman contacted Liberation Cat House, a rescue organization in Orlando, who quickly jumped in to help. Alyssa, a volunteer with the rescue, shared in an interview:
“It happened to be just five minutes from my house, so of course, I jumped in my car and drove straight over. It didn’t take long to locate what drain he was in, as he was screaming at the top of his lungs.”
Once Alyssa arrived at the location, she tried to rescue the kitten, but nothing worked. Fortunately, reinforcement soon arrived. She said:
“Several rescue directors and friends joined the rescue efforts. With their help, we were able to remove the grate that was covering the drain and crawl down inside.”
However, with a severe thunderstorm looming, the rescuers were racing against time to save the kitten.
They tried everything to lure him out, but nothing seemed to work, not even food. That’s when a true hero stepped in.
A rescuer named David volunteered to crawl into the narrow 16-inch pipe to rescue the kitten. Alyssa added:
“There wasn’t enough room to shimmy back out. His only option was to crawl through the entirety of the pipe – which spanned underground across four lanes of traffic and a large median.”
The rescuer patiently waited at the other end, ready to catch the frightened kitten. Ashley, director of Liberation Cat House, explained,
“As soon as the kitten was close enough, she scooped him up and placed him safely in a carrier.”
Once Stacey had the kitten secured, David emerged from the other side of the drain, covered in spiderwebs but breathing a huge sigh of relief.
Thankfully, the kitten was rescued just in time, only moments before the approaching storm. He required specialized care to make sure he could begin his journey toward a safer and happier life.
They named the little feline Luigi, and he meowed nonstop during the entire ride home. At first, he was understandably nervous, letting out a few hisses, but soon he began to calm down. Alyssa shared:
“As soon as I started petting him, he relaxed. He handled his bath like a champ, and once he was wrapped in a towel, he started purring in my arms. I gave him a stuffed animal, and he immediately curled up with it, purring and kneading on the blanket.”
Slowly but surely, Luigi started coming out of his shell. He transformed into an affectionate little cuddle bug, always filling the room with his gentle purrs. Alyssa added:
“I’m so thankful he’s safe and that so many people came together to save his life. Just 30 minutes after we rescued him, a heavy storm rolled in with rain and hail. If we hadn’t gotten to him in time, he likely would have drowned. I told him he made it through the worst, and life is only going to get better from here.”
Luigi quickly began to blossom, showing his sweet and affectionate nature. He loves being around people, especially his foster mum, and follows her from room to room like a devoted little shadow.
All that’s left now is for him to find a forever home. With his charming personality and irresistible looks, it seems likely that his happy ending is just around the corner.
