Feisty Feline Foils Firefighters During Rescue Attempt

LIVERMORE, CA — A fearful feline was rescued this morning from a drainage pipe near the San Francisco Outlets in Livermore, fire officials said. On Wednesday afternoon, Livermore-Pleasanton firefighters worked to free the kitten, which was found trapped in the pipe about three feet underground.

"The mom cat was off to the side hiding in the bushes watching the whole operation," Battalion Chief Jack Neiman-Kimel told Patch. "Her other two kittens were captured and given to the Feral Cat Foundation of Contra Costa and Alameda Counties for adoption."

Firefighters removed the vertical portion of the pipe and surrounding dirt and tried to coax the little critter using food and a camera phone.

"It appeared the kitten was very fond of the phone and camera," Neiman-Kimel said. "He would follow it out of the pipe to the point where he knew we were going to grab him and he would then go back in the hole."

Although firefighters were not able to get the stubborn kitten out right away, the Feral Cat Foundation returned early the next morning and successfully rescued the cat, which is now safe and awaiting adoption.

Photos courtesy Livermore-Pleasanton Fire BC