A fire at a Wellington cattery on Saturday night has left two cats still missing, though they are believed to have escaped the building during the blaze.
Emergency services were called just before midnight to a fire at the two-storey building on Mahora Street in Kilbirnie. The property, which houses CareVets cattery, has been red-stickered, meaning it is unsafe to enter. Authorities are still investigating the cause.
CareVets owner Nick Cooper confirmed that four cats escaped the building on the night of the fire. “Very pleased to say we have two of them,” he said. “We caught one yesterday and another today. We’ve confirmed all numbers, so two aren’t missing without a trace — we’re actively searching for them.”
Humane traps have been placed around the area to help catch the remaining cats. Cooper added that all pet owners, except one, have been informed about their cats.
This incident is not the first fire at the building. Fire and Emergency New Zealand said there was a previous fire at the same location on October 19, 2021, which was ruled an accident.
Cooper explained that the earlier fire started when a tenant in an upstairs flat discarded a lit cigarette into foliage beneath the deck. “They had some vegetation under the deck and were throwing cigarette butts into that area,” he said.
The building, which has stood for about 31 years, is shared by the cattery and residential flats.
Cooper praised his staff for their dedication during the emergency. “My team has been amazing,” he said. “To have them out there with me on a cold Wellington night, wanting to help, was just incredible. Both my Johnsonville and Kilbirnie teams have been in contact with pet owners and supporting one another.”
Investigations into the latest fire are ongoing.
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