When a Good Samaritan spotted a kitten darting across a busy road, she stopped to investigate—only to discover the frightened feline trapped in a storm drain. The ensuing rescue effort, led by volunteers from Liberation Cat House, turned into a race against time as thunderstorms loomed.
A Cry for Help
The bystander heard desperate meows coming from the drain and immediately contacted Liberation Cat House, a local rescue group. Volunteer Alyssa rushed to the scene. “He was screaming at the top of his lungs,” she told Love Meow. “We quickly pinpointed his location but couldn’t reach him with makeshift tools.”
As more rescuers arrived, they removed the drain’s heavy grate. With storms approaching, the team knew they had to act fast.
Daring Underground Rescue
Attempts to lure the kitten—later named Luigi—with food or recorded cat sounds failed. Volunteer David then crawled into the 16-inch-wide pipe, which stretched beneath four lanes of traffic.
“There wasn’t enough room to turn back,” said Ashley, a director at Liberation Cat House. “His only option was to crawl through the entire pipe.”
At the opposite end, volunteer Stacey waited to intercept Luigi. “She scooped him up the second he was close enough,” Ashley recounted. David emerged covered in spiderwebs but relieved—moments later, the storm unleashed heavy rain and hail.
From Fear to Purrs
Initially terrified, Luigi meowed nonstop during the car ride to foster care. But after a warm bath and a snug towel, he melted into his rescuer’s arms. “He started purring and kneading his blanket,” Ashley said.
Now thriving, Luigi has transformed into an affectionate lap cat, shadowing his foster mom and greeting her with nuzzles. “His appetite is great, and he loves attention,” Ashley added. “He made it through the worst—life only gets better from here.”
The rescue highlights how teamwork saved a life. “If we’d been 30 minutes later, he might not have survived,” Ashley said. “I’m so grateful everyone came together.”
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