As Hurricane Milton’s force rapidly grew while heading toward the Florida coast, communities were urged to either prepare or evacuate, but one person stopped her preparations and stepped in to help a mama cat and babies.
Nikki, the vice president of A Better Life-Pet Rescue of Florida, received a call at 10 p.m. the night before Hurricane Milton made landfall. Someone she’s worked with before told her about a mama cat and her kittens being left at a home that hadn’t been occupied in a few weeks.
“I told [my husband] if I don’t get her, I will never forgive myself,” she told Newsweek.
She especially felt like she couldn’t leave them after knowing the area completely flooded after Hurricane Ian in 2022. Nikki said they were not told to evacuate this time, but she didn’t want to risk these babies not making it.
Nikki and her friend drove about 30 minutes to the house and as soon as they arrived, the cat came running over. She said it was as if the cat was expecting her. The cat led them around the house while constantly looking back to check they were following her. She brought them right to her seven kittens.
They noticed empty food and water bowls were left outside and could tell the cat was starving. They placed her in a carrier with food while they started grabbing the kittens. Nikki said the mother didn’t seem to mind they were taking the babies either. It’s as if she knew they were helping.
She filmed the quick 15-minute rescue and shared it to the TikTok account @ruger121 on October 9. The cat tried her best to keep her babies covered and protected, preparing for the storm. But luckily, the cats didn’t have to brace it alone. Nikki and her friend immediately found all seven kittens and the mama. They placed them in the carrier and took them back to Nikki’s home to wait out the storm.
@ruger121/TikTok
Nikki housed 40 cats while Hurricane Milton battered across the state. Her home was lined with carriers. She wanted to save as many as she could.
The mama cat and her babies are living at a temporary foster home while they recover and get stronger, Nikki said. They’re all looking great, she said, however, some had eye infections and one kitty looked to have been injured. They’ll be moved to another foster once they are healthier.
As for the adoption process, she said it is too early. The kittens are only about two weeks old. Their eyes are just now opening. But she believes when the time comes, they’ll get adopted quickly, even the mama cat since she is “so trusting and thankful.”
With over 3.5 million views on TikTok, people melted at the heroic rescue and shared how thankful they were that she took the journey as the hurricane rapidly approached.
“Poor mama was stressed. Thank you for helping her,” said one viewer.
Another pointed out: “She had them tucked away for safety.
A third person wrote: “The tail straight up bc she was so happy someone finally came to save her babies. I’m not crying.”
Nikki/Better Life-Pet Rescue
