The Kitten Reunites With Its Mother After A Traumatic 40 Hours in a Drainpipe
A mother cat that had given birth in a storm drain was instantly rescued by workers from Catsnip, Etc. in Elkhart, Indiana. One lonely kitten, however, had another plan in mind as observers worked to save the cat family: she wanted to go on an unforgettable journey.
A stray cat that had been hanging out and had kittens was found by workers at a nearby workplace, according to Missy McNeal, a foster for Catsnip Etc. “By the time we arrived, the staff had already captured the other kittens.” One kitten, however, became scared and jumped into a pipe that fell 3 feet in a straight line. Rescuers heard her cries but were unable to see her.
Before we were called, the kitten had been down the pipe and crying for about 24 hours, according to McNeal. We realised that those 4-week-old babies still required their mother.
In order to find the kitten, McNeal created a plan to carefully feed a camera via a pipe set in the cement. The dedicated team looked for eight hours without finding anything. None of us wanted to leave the kitten alone overnight, but there was nothing we could do because it was completely dark. We hoped that some of the food we threw down the tunnels would reach her.
As instructed by the sewer company, the crew cleaned the pipes when they returned in the morning to let the kitten out into the open. With her trapped in a system of underground pipes, that was all that could be done, according to McNeal. Since none of the pipes were big enough for someone to climb through, we needed a miracle.
Thankfully, the miracle happened. The group found a manhole 75 feet from where the kitten went, alongside the road but hidden by grass. As soon as we heard her cries, we could see the water streaming, according to McNeal. And if we could locate someone little, they could follow her inside. Therefore, we made a [public] appeal.
Volunteer Ashley arrived on the scene to help. She entered the drainpipe and moved carefully forward, according to McNeal. After around 30 minutes, Ashley located the kitten, who had now been in the pipe for about two full days. “She climbed so far inside the pipe [that] she disappeared into the darkness and we could no longer see her,” Ashley said. But now, holding the terrified kitten, she had to climb backwards out of the drain.
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According to McNeal, it took another 40 minutes. “As soon as we could get to her, we grabbed her by the feet and dragged her the rest of the way outside.” The kitten was terribly cold, covered in dirt, and dehydrated.
The kitten, now named Piper, was warmed up and given fluids and food with a syringe before being brought to her mother and siblings. Mom, the baby, and their foster home are now protected from drain pipes and receiving wonderful care as they search for their permanent homes, according to McNeal.
Credit: MISSY MCNEAL