Plumber with a free cat-rescue service saves two kittens stuck in a pipe after firefighters fail to help, completely unaware his fiancée is witnessing the mission unfold online

Author image for Ayala Sorotsky
Ayala Sorotsky • Writer and Editor
May 25, 2026 3:00 PM EDT

We already know how many people it takes to change a lightbulb, but how many people does it take to rescue two kittens stuck in a storm pipe?

It seems that so many people were involved in this daring, live-blogged kitten rescue. But the most surprising of them all has got to be the fiancée of the plumber who actually got the kittens out to safety. She just chimed in on the comments and expanded everyone's hearts. We usually hear about firefighters saving a cat - and believe us, the fire department was absolutely involved in this kitten rescue - so hearing about another blue-collar fellow putting it all aside just to help cats in need is a great refreshment. But we appreciate anyone who saves cats from danger, no matter the place, time, occupation, or any other parameter. As long as the cats are safe.

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  • 01
    Kitten stuck or hiding in an outside drain pipe.
    via Lenur Aliev

    Kitten stuck or hiding in an outside drain pipe.

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    Really hoping the Internet can come to the rescue. We discovered some feral kittens in our backyard and my wife heard a meowing sound coming from the storm drain. This
    via belltown99
  • 03
    morning, we saw the small kittens face looking up at us from the pipe, so I can confirm it's alive.
    via belltown99
  • 04
    I am trying to get it out, but it's too timid and keeps running away. It's in a 4" PVC pipe which I can get my arm into, but then it turns hard right at a 90 degree
    via belltown99
  • 05
    angle. It's been down there for 2 days and we hear it meowing back at us when we play a video of a mom cat calling her kittens.
    via belltown99
  • 06
    I've duct taped a towel (as shown in the pics) in the hopes it will try to climb out. I also put cat food down there and will every now and then pour a little water there too. I
    via belltown99
  • 07
    also soaked some of the cat food in hot water and put it down the pipe, in the hopes the aroma will draw it back out. My plan is to use my BBQ tongs to grab it if ever shows up again.
    via belltown99
  • 08
    Thoughts internet? ☐ Sorry, don't know if this is the place to post or not. We aren't cat people, so have no prior experience with this kind of thing.
    via belltown99
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    Cheezburger Image 10633069312
    via belltown99
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    Cheezburger Image 10633070080
    via belltown99
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    057
    via belltown99
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    Cheezburger Image 10633068800
    via belltown99

  • That's such a hard place to save kittens from! So you can understand why this rescue mission was tougher than usual. It's not the get-your-hand-in-there sort of situation.

    As you'll notice down here, this person edited his post with every update on the situation. You can really feel the live-blog urgency when reading through the added edits.

  • 13
    EDIT: Thanks everyone for the ideas. The local fire fighters came within minutes of calling them and the three of them tried for about 30 min, but no luck. They were
    via belltown99
  • 14
    really kind and helpful and I could tell everyone was frustrated by the situation. This poor cat's natural instincts for survival are working against it.
    via belltown99
  • 15
    A firefighter holding a cat in his hands, smiling towards someone outside of frame.
    via Helgy

    A firefighter holding a cat in his hands, smiling towards someone outside of frame.

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • We're sure it was a surprise for the firefighters that this time the cat wasn't stuck in a tree… But you know what they say - every stereotype is ingrained in some truth. So maybe it's what it is, and firefighters can't really rescue cats from anything but trees.

  • 16
    EDIT 2: Calling a plumber. Turns out Roto Rooter has a free pet rescue service. Will update once we get that plan in motion. Dispatch is on it and we are waiting for a call back.
    via belltown99
  • 17
    Plumber working on an outside drain pipe with full gear.
    via dimaberlinphotos

    Plumber working on an outside drain pipe with full gear.

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 18
    EDIT 3: Wow, thanks everyone for sending the love and support. We have a plumber who is coming onsite within the hour (he is passionate about cats). He has some
    via belltown99
  • 19
    specialized gear, scopes, etc. Heading to the store to pick up some tuna, fish oils, and more. We are going to try and start blocking off paths in the drains once we confirm
    via belltown99
  • 20
    there is no cat in order to reduce where it's running around.
    via belltown99
  • 21
    Inside a drain pipe, water is flowing away from the camera towards the exit.
    via happyphoton

    Inside a drain pipe, water is flowing away from the camera towards the exit.

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 22
    EDIT 4: We got 'em out!! Jeremy, a Field Supervisor from Roto Rooter, volunteered and responded to the call.
    via belltown99
  • 23
    Thank goodness for his kind heart. He went straight to work. Took 3 adults to coordinate to shepherd 2 little kittens
    via belltown99
  • 24
    ED out There was 1 tiny female and 1 bigger guy. If it wasn't for the yelps of the big guy, we wouldn't have known they were down there. I
    via belltown99

  • Similar to the jokes about how many X do you need to change a lightbulb - this is the joke that writes itself about how many firefighters, plumbers, and internet crowds you need to rescue two kittens from a drain pipe.

  • 25
    will post a more comprehensive update once I have a chance to get all the photos/videos and take care of life that was on pause.
    via belltown99
  • 26
    A firefighter holding a cat, looking at it happily.
    via Gustavo Fring from Pexels

    A firefighter holding a cat, looking at it happily.

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 27
    EDIT 5: Thank you, citizens of the Internet for all of the support, ideas, and prayers. I haven't had a bite to eat all day and will try my best to respond, but it
    via belltown99
  • 28
    may take me a little while to catch up. Faith in humanity restored.
    via belltown99

  • Indeed, faith in humanity restored. It's a true heartwarmer when so many people join hands in trying to save the little lives of kittens in need.

    And now for some comment highlights, so you can experience what people were going through in real-time. And of course, there's also Jeremy's fiancée's comment - such a small world we live in!

  • 29
    RB5Network I don't see how this isn't solved without digging to the horizontal base of the pipe and then sawzalling it and leaving the pipe open for the kitten to come out.
    via RB5Network
  • 30
    This pipe seriously needed a grate on it and shame on the ones who installed it for not doing So.
    via RB5Network
  • 31
    belltown99 OP We are probably going to have to do that. That pipe had a gutter going into it, but I just removed it in order to try and get access. We think the kitten got into our drain system through a separate pipe, which was not grated, but have something on order to seal it up.
    via belltown99
  • 32
    Natural Bid177 I dispatch for roto rooter! Really glad you actually got a tech out there . Half the time we never get a tech out there cause it's unpaid and most techs only care about $$ :(. Always makes me sad, but I'm glad you got someone who cares! Hope you can get the baby out.
    via Natural_Bid177
  • 33
    belltown99 OP This guy deserves some kind of recognition. Not sure if you can DM or chat with me later so we can do the right thing here. He's driving 45 min to reach us. We are buying him lunch and will take care of him as best as we can when it comes to the money.
    via belltown99
  • 34
    KindWest6321 That's my future husband! So happy it worked out, we were so nervous!
    via KindWest6321

  • That's really the highlight of the highlights. What a closure it is to receive a word from the plumber's fiancée.

  • 35
    belltown99 OP Congrats! If he's willing to do this to help strangers and care for these little kittens, I can only imagine how he will be as a husband taking care of his family. We are so blessed to have crossed paths and please thank him again. on our behalf! M
    via belltown99
  • 36
    KindWest6321 He's the best cat dad already! I'm just glad he got the call and could help.
    via KindWest6321

  • Honestly, we're not surprised at all that this guy is a great cat dad already. All cat pawrents have a warm corner in their hearts for all cats in need, and since this is a case where he could actually do something to help - we're sure his cat-related parental instincts kicked in to save these tiny kittens. He must be so proud of himself. And we sure are proud of him.

  • 37
    katf1sh I'm literally crying, this is so wholesome! So glad you guys could come through for OP and de babies! Happy for all of you
    via katf1sh
  • 38
    DustyScharole Dude, call 911 and stop posting on Reddit. Ninja edit before people say "this isn't an emergency": hard disagree. A de d animal in a storm drain isn't going to be good for anyone either.
    via DustyScharole
  • 39
    belltown99 OP I called animal control and they said they wouldn't come out. I'll give the police/firefighters a shot.
    via belltown99
  • 40
    EDIT: Local firefighters are going to send someone over. Feeling better about this. EDIT 2: Some of you are fans of firefighters. They sent 3, of which one of them was strikingly similar to Channing Tatum.
    via belltown99
  • 41
    Onomatopoeia_ This I had a ducklings fall into a drain in front of my house. Called the Fire dept and you could tell it wasn't there first rodeo, they had all the tools and were able to save all the ducklings
    via 0nomatopoeia_
  • 42
    SigmaQuotient Good Guy Roto Rooter with free pet saving services wasn't on my 2026 card, but ill take it.
    via SigmaQuotient
  • 43
    Acceptable-Corgi3720 Whoever decided that Roto Rooter should save trapped animals deserves a raise because I can't think of a single instance in which my opinion of a company was raised as fast.
    via Acceptable-Corgi3720
  • 44
    Zestyclose-Beyond 780 For real. If I had to choose between 3 plumbers and found out this one offered a cat saving service, I would choose this even if it was more expensive.
    via Zestyclose-Beyond780
  • 45
    belltown99 OP I had no idea as well. Thankfully, this came up when we asked Al (cringe) for help. We were so desperate and Roto Rooter's dispatch picked up by the second ring and we had a call back within 15 minutes. Exceptional and they have a customer for life in us.
    via belltown99

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wholesome firefighters heartwarming plumbing kitten animal rescue cat rescue Cats cute kittens rescue
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