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

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    Kitten stuck or hiding in an outside drain pipe.
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    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
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    morning, we saw the small kittens face looking up at us from the pipe, so I can confirm it's alive.
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    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
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    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.
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    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
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    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.
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    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.
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    057
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    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
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    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.
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    A firefighter holding a cat in his hands, smiling towards someone outside of frame.
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    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.
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    Plumber working on an outside drain pipe with full gear.
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    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
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    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
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    there is no cat in order to reduce where it's running around.
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    Inside a drain pipe, water is flowing away from the camera towards the exit.
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    EDIT 4: We got 'em out!! Jeremy, a Field Supervisor from Roto Rooter, volunteered and responded to the call.
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    Thank goodness for his kind heart. He went straight to work. Took 3 adults to coordinate to shepherd 2 little kittens
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    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
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    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.
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    A firefighter holding a cat, looking at it happily.
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    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
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    may take me a little while to catch up. Faith in humanity restored.
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    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.
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    This pipe seriously needed a grate on it and shame on the ones who installed it for not doing So.
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    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.
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    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.
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    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.
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    KindWest6321 That's my future husband! So happy it worked out, we were so nervous!
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    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
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    KindWest6321 He's the best cat dad already! I'm just glad he got the call and could help.
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    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
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    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.
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    belltown99 OP I called animal control and they said they wouldn't come out. I'll give the police/firefighters a shot.
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    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.
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    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
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    SigmaQuotient Good Guy Roto Rooter with free pet saving services wasn't on my 2026 card, but ill take it.
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    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.
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    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.
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    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.

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