Tiny Cries From A Storm Drain Lead LA Rescuers To A Hidden Furry Family

Kind neighbors in a Los Angeles community had been keeping an eye on their local stray cat colony. They often left out food to make life a little easier for the homeless felines.

One day, they heard soft, desperate cries echoing from an old storm drain. They followed the sound, only to discover a familiar stray cat sheltering inside the drain with her five tiny kittens.

It was clear that this little family needed more than just food left out for them; they needed a real chance at safety and a better life.

The neighbors reached out to Cats At The Studios, a nonprofit run entirely by volunteers. The team quickly agreed to assist and brought along their friends from Hope For Paws.

When rescuers arrived at the storm drain, they immediately spotted the mother cat. She hissed, panicked, and darted away, leaving her babies behind in fear.

Inside the drain, the rescuers found five little gray kittens pressed close together in a pile. None of them had ever interacted with humans before, and the situation was completely new to them.

The team worked slowly and carefully. They knew that any sudden move could send the kittens scattering deeper into the drain.

To their relief, when one rescuer reached out and stroked a kitten, the little one melted into the touch. The rest soon followed.

After some much-needed cuddles, each kitten was lifted into a carrier. The plan was to get them to the vet for a checkup, place them in a foster home, and eventually find each one a loving forever family.

But there was still a big challenge ahead: catching their mom. The rescuers knew this wasn’t going to be easy.

The mother cat had a reputation in the neighborhood: she’d been outsmarting traps for over two years. Every attempt to catch her had ended in failure.

This time, though, the team was determined. They placed a humane trap near the kittens’ carrier, hoping that her maternal instincts would draw her in. They even played recordings of kittens meowing, trying to convince her to return.

But hours passed, and mama cat never showed up. Eventually, they had no choice but to take the kittens to safety, knowing they needed food and medical attention.

The five kittens, later named Zazu, Rafiki, King, Tiifu, and Sarafina, settled into a loving foster home under Hope For Paws’ care. Before long, they started to thrive. They enjoyed warm meals, cozy blankets, and plenty of playtime.

Meanwhile, volunteers from Cats At The Studios didn’t give up on their mom. Just days later, they finally managed to capture the elusive cat. They spayed her right away to ensure she wouldn’t have to go through the same struggle again.

Then, she was released back into her colony, where she could live safely without the constant burden of raising litter after litter.

It may not have been the fairytale ending of keeping the entire family together, but it was still a victory. The kittens now had the chance to grow up healthy and loved, while their mom was freed from the exhausting cycle of survival and motherhood.

Looking back, it’s amazing to think that it all started with faint cries from a storm drain. Thanks to a group of caring neighbors and dedicated rescuers, both the kittens and their mother were given a second chance at life, a chance most strays never get.