BRIDGE CITY, Texas—Ducky the cat now enjoys a safe, cozy life with her new family—but her survival hinged on a stranger’s courage, quick thinking, and willingness to face her own fears.
Last November, Nicole Toney spotted the terrified feline crouched on the ledge of the Veteran’s Memorial Bridge, over 100 feet above the Neches River and inches away from speeding traffic. Despite her intense fear of heights, Toney turned her car around, pulled over, and scooped up the stranded kitten in a daring rescue she later shared on TikTok. The video has since gone viral, amassing over 14.5 million views.
“I legitimately felt like I was going to puke the entire time,” Toney admitted in a follow-up post.
A Split-Second Decision
The rescue unfolded during Toney’s lunch break. After stopping by her Bridge City home, she was crossing the 140-foot-high bridge back to work when she noticed a small bird—and nearby, the trembling kitten. Unable to stop immediately, she took four minutes to loop back.
With cars whizzing past at 70 mph and strong winds buffeting the bridge, Toney parked on the shoulder and approached the ledge. “I couldn’t leave her there. That would’ve been terrible. I couldn’t live with myself if I had just left her,” she said in her TikTok account (@nicoletoney), where she documented the rescue in a seven-part series.
Despite being “petrified,” she gently gripped Ducky by the neck to secure her and rushed back to the car. After calling her husband, she bought supplies and brought the kitten home—where Ducky joined their five dogs and two other cats, all rescues.
A New Home—and a Touching Connection
Ducky—nicknamed for being a “lucky duck”—bonded quickly with her golden retriever sibling, though her skittishness prompted Toney to attach a bell to her collar for easier tracking.
The adoption held special meaning for Toney, whose cat Mabel had disappeared two years earlier, leaving her brother Nigel alone. “The second I snatched her off the bridge, I knew we’d keep her. She looks so much like Mabel,” Toney said.
While it’s unclear how Ducky ended up on the bridge, Toney noted that animal abandonment in the area is not uncommon. Thanks to her bravery, however, this lucky cat now has a second chance.
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