A strange sound inside the wall of a Tucson auto shop led firefighters to an adorable kitten trapped behind the brick — and the shop owners chose to keep her.
Here's what to know
According to KVOA, Tucson Fire Department Engine 3 crews were sent to the business on Oct. 12 after people inside said they could hear a kitten crying somewhere within the building.
By following the meows, firefighters traced the sound to a hollow space behind the structure's exterior brick. Once they identified the wall as the source, the call turned into a careful effort to locate and remove her.
Crews believed the kitten most likely entered through a broken section of rain gutter before ending up stuck behind the brick.
The rescue ended with the auto shop owners deciding to adopt the kitten.
More background
When firefighters arrived, there was no kitten out in the open. Instead, they had to work from the faint cries heard inside the business to pinpoint an animal hidden within the wall.
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She was lodged in a vacant cavity behind the outer brick, requiring crews to reach her without injuring her further and while limiting damage to the building.
Firefighters said the kitten likely slipped in through a damaged gutter area, an opening that can pose a risk to very young animals small enough to squeeze into narrow spaces, per KVOA.
What's being done?
KVOA reported that firefighters used irons to chip away grout around a single brick, making enough room to access the kitten. Once that brick came out, they were able to pull her free safely.
Crews also inspected the wall to confirm there were no other kittens trapped inside.
Afterward, firefighters sealed the opening, according to KVOA, to reduce the chance of the same kind of incident happening again.
The auto shop owners adopted the kitten.
The Tucson Fire Department summed up the ending lightheartedly on Facebook: "Looks like this kitten used one of her nine lives today and landed herself a purr-fect happy ending!"
Where can I learn more?
Here are a few similar rescues, with cats and kittens found by their cries or pulled from walls, drains, rubble, cars, and trees.
• In southern Spain, firefighters chisel around its face to free a cat trapped in masonry.
• In Hampton, Va., children hear cries as firefighters lure a trapped kitten from a storm drain.
• In Mississippi, a storm chaser hears faint meows in rubble and finds a kitten.
• In Galleywood, England, an indoor cat survives a 15-mile trip under a car before reuniting with family.
• After hearing cries in the woods, a rescuer finds a four-week-old kitten trapped in a tree.
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