Family rescues what they believe is a completely normal kitten, only for the kitten to turn out to be a baby bobcat whose momma is still looking for, leading to the most heartwarming reunion between a worried mom and her baby: 'Incredible to see'

Author image for Mariel Ruvinsky
Mariel Ruvinsky • Writer and Editor
Jun 25, 2025 10:00 AM EDT

Here, at ICHC, we celebrate when people help kittens in need. If someone hears a kitten crying for help or helps a kitten who approached them, we see that as one of the kindest things that you can pawssibly do. And that is exactly what the couple in this story did. When they saw a kitten climbing up their window, trying to find shelter during a storm, they did the only thing that they thought was right - they brought the kitten in, even started making plans to adopt the kitten. 

It's not their fault that the kitten turned out to be a bobcat. We suppose that in the darkness, when you're saving a kitten, you might not notice that it's a tiny bit bigger than it should be and that's its shape and its fur pattern are a little unusual. We still believe that they did the right thing when bringing the kitten in, because we're not sure how well it would have done out there in the storm if its momma was not nearby at the time, but the best thing that they did, of course, was to help the kitten reunite with its momma in the morning. 

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  • 01
    Lenexa Police Department During a recent severe thunderstorm, our Animal Control Officers responded to a very unexpected, and very wild, intruder! A Lenexa resident discovered this bobcat kitten had found its way inside their home, likely seeking shelter from the storm.
    via Lenexa Police Department
  • 02
    Our Animal Control Officer safely captured the young feline and kept it warm and secure overnight. The next day, with clearer skies, the kitten was safely released and happily reunited with its mother nearby.
    via Lenexa Police Department
  • 03
    As Lenexa grows, encounters with suburban wildlife can become more common. We're committed to helping our community safely co-exist with the wild animals that share our environment. Let's work together to protect both people and wildlife in our beautiful community.
    via Lenexa Police Department
  • 04
    DURING A RECENT THUNDERSTORM, A BOBCAT KITTEN GOT SEPERATED FROM ITS FAMILY
    via Lenexa Police Department

  • According to KCTV5, Lilly Novak and her girlfriend, Morgan, thought that they were doing the right thing when they brought in a kitten that was climbing on their window and trying to stay safe from the rain home. They thought that they were chosen by the cat distribution system… except they realized very quickly that what they adopted was not a normal kitten. 

  • 05
    AND WANDERED INTO A LENEXA HOME
    via Lenexa Police Department

  • “It went from thinking we were saving a baby kitten, maybe being able to have a new kitten, to then this is a bobcat, what are we supposed to do?” Lilly explained. “I mean, it was just a regular Tuesday night for us. We were just playing, and we were going to do bedtime. And then it just took a detour, but it was just shocking.”

  • 06
    ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS RESPONDED AND KEPT THE KITTEN SAFE OVERNIGHT
    via Lenexa Police Department
  • 07
    THE NEXT DAY ANIMAL CONTROL TOOK IT BACK TO THE SAME AREA
    via Lenexa Police Department

  • The couple kept the baby warm and safe overnight and called animal control to figure out what to do next. In the meantime, their Ring camera captured footage of the worried bobcat momma circling their home multiple times, looking for her baby. 

  • 08
    AND THE MOTHER RESPONDED TO HER KITTENS CRY
    via Lenexa Police Department

  • The next morning, animal control took the bobcat kitten and placed it where the couple first found it, and within minutes, the momma bobcat came to get her baby. “Incredible to see, especially in your own backyard when you recognize all the trees and everything, and then you see these interesting creatures, so it was really, really cool.”

  • 09
    AND THE MOTHER RESPONDED TO HER KITTENS CRY
    via Lenexa Police Department
  • 10
    HAPPY REUNION!!
    via Lenexa Police Department
  • 11
    HAPPY REUNION!! Lak
    via Lenexa Police Department
  • 12
    HAPPY REUNION!!
    via Lenexa Police Department
  • 13
    HAPPY REUNION!!
    via Lenexa Police Department
  • 14
    Cheezburger Image 10520519168
    via Lenexa Police Department
  • 15
    Joanna Meek When she looks back at the camera- it's like she's thanking you for finding her baby!!!
    via Joanna Meek
  • 16
    Stephanie Ellis Look at those tail wags. So adorable. Mom was probably heartbroken all night.
    via Stephanie Ellis
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    Donna Mason I'm jealous that this didn't occur at my house. What an incredible, precious experience & story for both the resident & animal control officer. So glad that baby could be reunited with momma
    via Donna Mason
  • 18
    April Bau Ochoa The way I would have thought the cat distribution system had brought kitty. LOL me a
    via April Bau Ochoa
  • 19
    Chanel Gloe How cute!! Thank you for reuniting them
    via Chanel Gloe
  • 20
    Julie Allen The babies' chirps. "MOM, get me down from here?"
    via Julie Allen

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