Society

Fishermen Rescue Kittens Swimming Alabama River Video

Ruth Kamau  ·  June 12, 2015

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – It was just another day on the Alabama River when a group of fishermen stumbled upon a scene that pulled at the heartstrings. Back in June 2015, these guys were out casting lines, minding their own business, when they noticed a few tiny kittens paddling desperately in the water. No one knows exactly how the kittens ended up there – maybe they fell off a boat or were swept in by the current – but the fishermen didn’t hesitate. They dropped their rods and dove into action, scooping up the soaked and shivering felines one by one. It was a quick, chaotic rescue that could’ve easily gone wrong, but these folks pulled it off like pros.

The fishermen, a mix of locals who often hit the river for bass and catfish, shared that the kittens were barely hanging on by the time they got to them. One of the men, who asked not to be named, told reporters he thought they were dealing with ducklings at first glance, but up close, it was clear these were scared little cats. They wrapped the kittens in towels from their boat and rushed them to shore, where animal control stepped in to check them out. Vets later said the kittens were in pretty rough shape, exhausted and a bit banged up, but they pulled through after some care and a warm place to dry off. It’s moments like this that remind you how everyday people can step up in a pinch.

Word of the rescue spread fast, thanks to a video one of the fishermen shot on his phone and posted online. The clip showed the men carefully plucking the kittens from the water, with one even meowing in protest as it was lifted aboard. It racked up thousands of views in no time, tugging at folks’ emotions and sparking a wave of shares across social media. People couldn’t get enough of the story – here were these burly fishermen, probably more used to reeling in fish, suddenly playing the role of cat saviors.

In the end, the kittens found new homes through a local shelter, and the fishermen went back to their routines, though they probably had a few extra tales to tell around the campfire. It’s not every day you hear about something so heartwarming amid the usual news cycle, and this one stuck with me as a nice break from the ordinary. Back in 2015, it was a small but feel-good reminder that kindness can pop up in the most unexpected places.