Four kittens rescued after falling into rock wall crevice, reunited with mom
It was a happy ending for a mama cat and her four kittens, after the kitties fell into the deep crevice of a rock wall behind Costco in Sudbury.
Rescuers credit social media for being able to reunite the family so quickly.
Mama cat and her four kittens reunited after being rescued from rock wall behind Costco in Sudbury. Nov. 11/23 (Ross Evans)
It started last week when Debbie Willmott said she noticed a couple social media posts about a cat dodging traffic near the big box stores on Barrydowne Road and Marcus Drive.
Willmott told CTV News in a phone interview she has been helping rescue cats in the Sudbury area for a long time and is experienced with trapping them.
It took her two days to trap the mama cat, putting food out to lure her in.
"I saw where she was coming from up and down the hill towards Silver City," she said.
"Thankfully, with the snowfall, I was able to find her pawprints."
On Friday night, Willmott set a trap to catch the cat.
When she arrived home 40 minutes later, she got a notification that the cat was in the trap, so she returned to the site.
'MY HEART SANK'
What should have been a triumphant moment, turned to worry as she discovered the cat was a female still nursing kittens.
The next job was to find the kittens.
After consulting with some other rescuers, Willmott decided not to release the mama cat.
Instead, she contacted nearby businesses, Silver City, Rona and Costco to be on the lookout for kittens.
Willmott brought a handwritten poster to Costco to be put up in the breakroom.
FINDING THE BABIES
Saturday evening, staff at Costco found four three-week-old kittens stuck in the rock retaining wall behind the store.
Rock retaining wall behind Costco in Sudbury where four three-week-old kittens were rescued from a deep crevice. Nov. 11/23 (Danielle Geneau)
The kittens had fallen into a crevice that was deeper than an arm's length.
"They seem to be in deep so it’s hard to reach them," Ross Evans said in a post on social media Nov. 11 at 6:24 p.m.
Evans' wife, Danielle Geneau, works at Costco and told CTV News in an online interview the rescue was a four-person effort.
"My coworker Graham heard them crying, got help," Geneau said.
"We searched the warehouse for 'pickers.' We brought canes and tape out hoping to 'stick' the kittens as a last resort ... We were desperate. They were freezing and losing energy. Very deep into the wall."
During the rescue, she called the local rescue group Pet Save Sudbury andspoke to director Jill Pessot, who was out to dinner with family.
"I waited for each one and took them to our observers' warm car, wrapped up in a blanket in her warm vehicle, we waited for them all to be rescued," Geneau said.
All four kittens were eventually rescued shortly before 7 p.m. using a reach extender.
Two of them were in bad shape and starting to freeze, Willmott said.
REUNITED
Willmott picked the kittens up from Costco on Saturday evening and brought the reunited family to the Pet Save shelter.
Mama cat and her four kittens at Pet Save Sudbury after being rescued on the weekend. (Ross Evans)
She said she isn't sure how long the kittens had gone without food, but having lots of fur helped them survive.
All five felines are now thriving and doing well, but are looking for a foster home.
Anyone interested can call 705-692-3319 or text 705-662-2352.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.7029443.1725744633!/httpImage/image.png_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.png)
Police release video of Toronto plaza shooting that killed university student
A university student from Brampton was killed when two shooters fired indiscriminately into a crowded plaza in Toronto last month in what police say was a 'cowardly act.'
'Hopeless and helpless': Regina mother seeks help to treat rare spinal disease
Mary Grace Rico is seeking help in getting treatment for a rare spinal condition.
The iPhone is getting a 'glow' up. What to expect from Apple's Monday event
Apple excited fans with its vision for its 'Apple Intelligence' artificial intelligence system earlier this year. Now, it's time for the company to prove it really works.
No more porta-potties at B.C. construction sites starting Oct. 1
What some B.C. construction workers describe as the worst aspect of their jobs will be coming to an end next month, the province announced.
'Extremely vigorous' wildfire activity in central B.C. prompts crews to back off for safety
The wildfire fight in central B.C. intensified Friday, according to officials.
Aryna Sabalenka beats Jessica Pegula to win the U.S. Open for her third Grand Slam title
Aryna Sabalenka got past Jessica Pegula 7-5, 7-5 in a rollicking U.S. Open women’s final Saturday to win her first championship at Flushing Meadows and third Grand Slam title of her career.
They were due to leave for their dream cruise in May. Three months on they’re still stuck at the departure port
It was the years-long cruise that was supposed to set sail, but saw its departure postponed… postponed… and postponed again.
Trudeau insists he's staying on as Liberal leader. But what if he changes his mind?
The Liberal caucus is set to meet in Nanaimo, B.C., next week for a retreat ahead of the fall parliamentary sitting. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau insists he will lead his party into the next election despite polls citing his unpopularity among Canadians. Here's a look at what would happen if he decided to call it quits.