There’s nothing quite like a parent’s love for their children—they’ll do anything to keep them safe, even if it means risking their own lives. This incredible devotion isn’t just found in humans; animals show it too.
One amazing example is a mother cat who bravely saved her kittens from a burning building.
When firefighters arrived at a garage fire in Brooklyn, they witnessed something extraordinary. Amid the flames and smoke, a courageous cat was carrying her kittens out of the burning building, one by one.
She went back into the dangerous fire five times to rescue each of her babies. After bringing them all to safety, she gently touched their noses to make sure they were alive.
Exhausted and badly hurt, the cat, later named Scarlett, collapsed after her heroic effort. According to firefighter David Giannelli, who saw what happened:
“Scarlett herself had been severely burned in the process of pulling her kittens from the fire. Her eyes were blistered shut, her ears and paws burned, and her coat highly singed,” the post read.
“The majority of her facial hair had been burnt away. After saving the kittens she was seen to touch each of her kittens with her nose to ensure they were all there and alive, as the blisters on her eyes kept her from being able to see them, and then she collapsed unconscious.”
The firefighters managed to put out the fire and got medical help for Scarlett and her kittens. Sadly, one of the kittens didn’t survive, but the others were treated and found loving homes.
Scarlett’s story touched hearts all over the world. She became the subject of books like “Scarlett Saves her Family” and “The Bravest Cat.”
These poor kitties were rescued from an animal cruelty case where they were starved, locked in cages with inches of feces, and received no water or food. Now, these cats need your help!
She was adopted by a family in Brooklyn and lived happily for 12 years until she passed away in 2008.
To honor her bravery, The North Shore Animal League, which cared for Scarlett and her kittens, named an award after her to recognize other heroic animals.
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