‘My smoke alarm failed’, but my cat didn't: Hero feline finds fire, alerts pawrent and saves the day

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Laurent Shinar • Writer and Editor
Jan 30, 2025 4:00 PM EST

A tale of such feline heroism does come along but once in a blue moon, and it seems as though that blue tinted moon is hanging high over our heads today as we are presented with the story of a young feline who saved their home and their hooman from being burnt down. Departing from the usual narrative of cats not caring about anything or anyone else but themselves. This self-less feline fought to make sure that their hooman knew there was a fire and that they should get to safety.

Now, one thing that is left out of the story is the culprit. We will not offer up any spoilers right now, but we will say that there were two cats in the house and only one of them seemed bothered by the fire. On top of that, the oven was mysteriously turned on while their pawrent was away. Talk about a suspicion stew…

We will leave you to decide who might be to blame, or if it even matters that there might be someone to blame. That is all there is left to do when a situation is handled as pawfessionally as Polly did.

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  • 01
    'Polly starts going berserk, in a way never seen or heard her.' I've
    via u/piecesofg0ld
  • 02
    I have two cats, Polly (calico, almost 3 y/o) and Oswin (black kitten, 16 weeks). Oswin is a very new adoption.
    via u/piecesofg0ld
  • 03
    I have never used my oven - I use the hob, but the oven itself is used for storage of pots and pans and crockery.
    via u/piecesofg0ld
  • 04
    Now, I was just hope for not very long before I had to go to the pet store which is quite a way a way. I had some laundry
    via u/piecesofg0ld
  • 05
    drying with my electric heater and dehumidifier (I've been doing this for over two years, yes everything is fine. Not the issue here. I don't own a dryer).
    via u/piecesofg0ld
  • 06
    I was checking in on Oswin when Polly starts going berserk, in a way I've never seen or heard her. Initially I thought she
    via u/piecesofg0ld
  • 07
    just wanted attention - not unusual with a new kitten - but she just kept crying, leading me around the kitchen/living room.
    via u/piecesofg0ld
  • 08
    Cheezburger Image 10461018368
    via u/piecesofg0ld
  • 09
    Then I smell something smokey. I think it might be my space heater - I got it second hand 2 years ago and am wary of it developing a fault. I
    via u/piecesofg0ld
  • 10
    turn it off, but something still seems off. The room seems smokey too, and it's not just my glasses needing to be cleaned.
    via u/piecesofg0ld
  • 11
    I open the oven, and am immediately engulfed in smoke.
    via u/piecesofg0ld
  • 12
    I don't even think - I grab Polly and throw her into my bedroom with Oswin, figure out how the! the oven is on (because not a SINGLE light was on), turn it off, open the window and door, salvage
    via u/piecesofg0ld
  • 13
    what I can from the oven (RIP plastic pasta strainer, we barley knew ye).
    via u/piecesofg0ld
  • 14
    I don't know who, how or when the oven dial was knocked, but it must have been on for a while. My smoke alarm didn't go off once. There were no
    via u/piecesofg0ld
  • 15
    lights. We all could have choked to death because of my stupidity had Polly not alerted me.
    via u/piecesofg0ld
  • 16
    We're all fine. Clearly I need my smoke alarm tested, and should triple check the oven is all the way off. Window is all the
    via u/piecesofg0ld
  • 17
    way open for the rest of the evening. Polly will be getting extra treats and my undying gratitude.
    via u/piecesofg0ld
  • 18
    Cheezburger Image 10461018112
    via u/piecesofg0ld

  • Well, there is one element of this story that needs to be addressed. There are two cats in the house, one who is losing her mind sounding the alarm and one who is suspiciously quiet. Add that to the mysterious turning on of the oven, and our money is on blaming Owsin for this mishap that Polly told him would happen. Oh cat children, will they ever learn what their boundless curiosity can do to them?

  • 19
    Kwanah_P... Well done Polly. Well done you for saving the cat first.
    via u/Kwanah_Parker
  • 20
    spookymil... They are so smart! Well done girl! My girl Rocky once ran upstairs to alert me the bacon had caught fire under the grill in the
    via u/spookymilner
  • 21
    minute I was away, and after it was out and I was cleaning up, she still kept coming in to the kitchen meowing and trying to lead me outside.
    via u/spookymilner
  • 22
    Cheezburger Image 10461017856
    via u/piecesofg0ld

  • Well you know why Rocky was trying to lead his pawrent outside, it was not due to the risks of smoke inhalation or residual fire. It was 100% because that is where his pawrent threw out the burnt bacon. Heck if you ask us the bacon is the whole reason Rocky sounded the alarm in the first place. And who would not go nuts if they saw that their yummy strips of bacon were getting burnt to smithereens.

  • 23
    piecesofgold thank you for all the love! polly isn't one for cuddles but she has had
    via u/piecesofg0ld
  • 24
    plenty of pets and treats for her heroism. all tuckered out now! and yes, i have let my landlord know about the useless smoke alarm. (oswin is somewhere in my bedroom probably attacking the corner of my duvet)
    via u/piecesofg0ld

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hero cat failed fire smoke alarm find save feline didnt pawrents alert
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