They say curiosity killed the cat. But in this case, instead, it seems curiosity saved the day.

When Bri Smith stepped into her Los Angeles backyard recently, she didn’t expect to embark on a rescue mission. What started as a mysterious sound — something between a bird’s chirp and a cat’s meow — quickly turned into a life-saving adventure.

“[It] … sounded like a strange bird,” Smith said. Intrigued, she followed the noise up her street to a rubble pile, where the source of the sound became clear: a tiny kitten, its relentless meows calling for help. “I knew something was wrong,” she said.

@brismithbri NEED HELP FROM ANY LOS ANGELES RESCUES!!!! Cat distribution system at work! I was doing yard work in my backyard when I heard tiny frantic meows. It almost sounded like a bird but the cat mom in me knew it was a kitten! I followed the sound up the street until I saw the little baby and that’s when the video begins! I’ve reached out to a couple of rescues but still haven’t heard back! I want to get these babies to the vet and eventually adopted to good homes! Any rescue recommendations or fosters in the area please let me know!!! #kittenrescue #catdistributionsystem #cat #catsoftiktok #kittensoftiktok #rescuecat #rescueanimals #kittens #fyp ♬ Soft Aesthetic Sound – Aesthetica

Armed with Churu snack sticks and determination, Smith and her husband coaxed the kitten out from its concrete hideaway. Just as they thought their work was done, another kitten darted toward them, and they managed to secure that one, too. With two little ones safely in hand, Smith’s concern grew—were there more siblings still out there?

Smith brought the kittens home, setting up a cozy spot with food and water. But her mission wasn’t over. Returning to the rubble pile, she found two more kittens. While she was able to catch one — a tiny, three-legged kitten — she couldn’t rescue the fourth.

It felt like I was holding a leaf because he was so lightweight,” Smith said.

Back at home, the rescued trio began to settle in. With help from her TikTok followers, Smith named the kittens Rubble, Mr. Spicy and Biggie. The kittens quickly adapted, eating, playing, and grooming each other. While Rubble and Biggie warmed up to Smith right away, Mr. Spicy lived up to his name, remaining cautious at first. But within days, even Mr. Spicy couldn’t resist a few affectionate pets.

Still, Smith couldn’t shake her worry for the missing kitten. She partnered with Luxe Paws LA and Boyle Heights Cats to set traps, changing locations and bait to lure the elusive fourth sibling. Each day brought disappointment, but that only made Smith more determined to find the little one.

Three of the rescued kittens. Photo by Bri Smith

During her search, Smith spotted a familiar face: the kittens’ mother, a stray she regularly fed in her neighborhood. Working with the shelters, she ensured the mama cat was spayed and safely returned to her territory. Eventually, the day came to send the three kittens to a foster family. Though the goodbye was bittersweet, Smith found comfort knowing they were headed to a loving home. Even then, she couldn’t stop thinking about the kitten still missing.

Then, in an unexpected twist, Smith’s perseverance paid off in the most surprising way. While scrolling through Instagram, she saw a familiar face in a post from a local shelter. “I just knew immediately that was the kitten,” Smith said. “I remember gasping out loud … It was an exact match.”

The kitten had crawled into a car in her neighborhood and was brought to safety by a kind neighbor. Smith was overjoyed. Thanks to her hard work, each of the kittens were safe and sound, and on their way to their forever homes.

@brismithbri Part 2! I couldn’t believe how tiny this little baby was compared to the others! I’ll update you guys more tomorrow about how they’re doing! In the meantime please send me any LA rescue recommendations! We are desperate to find them good homes and to rescue the fourth baby! Also, can anyone tell me how old they look? I can’t tell but I’m guessing around 6 weeks! #kittenrescue #catdistributionsystem #cat #catsoftiktok #kittensoftiktok #rescuecat #rescueanimals #kittens #fyp ♬ Soft Aesthetic Sound – Aesthetica

Source: The Dodo