Workers discovered “ceiling cats” in their office, which led to several eventful days of saving many kittens.
OrphanKittenProject
Last month, Orphan Kitten Project, a vet student-run rescue (at UC Davis), received a call from a local car rental office about some “ceiling cats” in need of rescue.
Workers heard the soft pitter-patter of kitten feet and meows coming from the ceiling. Since they couldn’t figure out how to reach them, they decided to wait for the mother cat to bring them down.
“In classic kitten style, these kids did not wait around for that,” Orphan Kitten Project shared.
One of the ceiling kittens made a daring leap to the groundOrphanKittenProject
The tiniest orange tabby, a pocket-sized dynamo, attempted a daring leap from the ceiling. Remarkably, he landed on the lobby floor without a scratch. Rescuers swiftly scooped up the fearless one and brought him into foster care.
“A few days later, one of his brothers followed suit.”
OrphanKittenProject
The adventurous, gravity-defying kittens ultimately led the rescuers right to their hideout. “About 10 feet up the wall, there was a small ledge with a hole into the ceiling/plumbing area.”
They devised a plan to lure the rest of the kittens out with food. One by one, the kittens, drawn by the tempting aroma, emerged from hiding.
They located where the kittens were hiding and safely rescued them one by oneOrphanKittenProject
“Using a tall ladder and some sneak attack moves, we were able to grab them one at a time when they poked their heads out. (Never attempt to grab feral kittens with your bare hands. Humane traps should be used whenever possible.)”
Each time they rescued one kitten, another one would appear. They kept going until no more kittens remained in the ceiling.
The kittens were placed in foster care, where they could socialize and thriveOrphanKittenProject
“We ended up with a total of seven ceiling kittens.” They were placed in foster homes, but the rescue didn’t stop there. Last week, the feral mother was caught, spayed (to break the cycle of endless litters), and returned to the community she calls home.
As kitten season ramps up, TNR efforts—spaying and neutering community cats—can reduce the influx of kittens into rescues and shelters.
They turned into snuggly lap catsOrphanKittenProject
“Getting kittens to feel safe and confident in foster care after they’ve been living in a quiet, dark, cozy space with a mom and no humans for the first several weeks of life can be tricky,” the rescue told Love Meow.
Jiggy, the little daredevil who jumped ten feet from the ceiling, quickly came out of his shell. Soon after, Pigeon, the second kitten to make the leap, joined him in foster care.
OrphanKittenProject
The rest of the kittens settled into comfortable home life, letting their personalities shine at their own pace.
“Our fosters were very patient and gave them the space and time they needed to feel truly safe. A slow introduction to a calm household makes all the difference, helping kittens feel that humans can provide a loving environment for them to grow up in.”
OrphanKittenProject
All the kittens are thriving in their foster homes.
Fueled by hearty meals and constant zoomies, they are blossoming into happy, curious, and playful young cats. Soon, some of them will be ready to start looking for their forever homes.
OrphanKittenProject
The little pitter-patter in the ceiling led to the rescue of seven kittens and a better life for their mom. Thanks to many compassionate individuals, these little ones now have a bright future ahead.
OrphanKittenProject
Share this story with your friends. Orphan Kitten Project rescues and cares for some of the most at-risk kittens. To see how you can support their rescue efforts, visit their Instagram@orphankittenproject or Facebook page.
Related story: Person Offers Shelter Cat and Three Kittens Fresh Start, One of Them is Quick to Take Charge
