Orlando Kitten’s Cries Lead Rescuers To A Dramatic Drain Rescue

In Orlando, Florida, a routine day turned into an extraordinary rescue mission when a woman noticed a tiny kitten darting across the road. 

Concerned, she stopped to investigate, only to hear faint, desperate cries coming from a nearby storm drain. It didn’t take long to realize someone was in urgent trouble.

The cries belonged to a young kitten trapped deep inside the drain, unable to escape. Without hesitation, the woman contacted Liberation Cat House, a local rescue organization. In an interview, Alyssa, a volunteer with the group, recalled:

“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, she tried to coax the kitten out, but nothing worked. Soon, reinforcement 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.”

Time was critical. A severe thunderstorm loomed, and the team raced against the clock. Every attempt to lure the kitten out, even with food, failed. 

That’s when a true hero stepped in: David, a rescuer, volunteered to crawl through the narrow 16-inch pipe. Alyssa explained:

“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.”

As David made his way through the dark, cramped pipe, other rescuers anxiously waited above and below. Stacey, standing at the far end, was ready to catch the kitten. Ashley, a director at Liberation Cat House, described the moment:

“As soon as the kitten was close enough, she scooped him up and placed him safely in a carrier.”

David emerged from the other side covered in spiderwebs, but the relief was immediate. Thanks to their coordinated effort, the kitten was saved just in time before the storm hit.

The kitten, named Luigi, meowed almost the entire ride home. Nervous at first, he slowly began to relax after a comforting bath and a soft towel. 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.”

Over the following days, Luigi’s personality began to shine. He turned into an affectionate little cuddle bug, filling the room with gentle purrs and following his foster mom everywhere like a loyal shadow. 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.”

Today, Luigi thrives in his foster home, enjoying love, safety, and comfort after such a terrifying start. All that’s left is for him to find his forever family. 

With his sweet personality, gentle nature, and courage, it won’t be long before Luigi finds the perfect home he so clearly deserves.