Friday afternoon brought a surprise for a crew of Roto-Rooter plumbers working near Airport Boulevard.
Amid the hum of traffic, a series of faint meows caught their attention.
A baby kitten had slipped into a storm drain right outside All In Credit Union, finding herself six feet underground with no clear path home.
In Mobile’s summer heat, that depth quickly becomes perilous—especially for such a tiny explorer.
Teamwork Under the Sun
Plumber Marquice Johnson described how the rescue unfolded.
“We had someone guiding a line from one entrance while we worked the other side,” he said.
The kitten had crawled beneath a concrete slab and vanished from view.
As the mercury climbed past 90°F, every passing minute felt longer. In this city, summer days stretch endlessly, and drains hide unexpected challenges.
After a couple of hours spent coaxing and coaxing, the plumbing pros finally secured a grip on the little one’s scruff and lifted her to safety.
A Shaky Start
When the kitten emerged, she trembled in the rays of the afternoon sun.
Johnson noted that without swift action, the poor thing might not have made it to sunrise.
Drains don’t provide any shelter from the heat, and a newborn’s small body can’t hold up against dehydrating temperatures.
The crew wrapped her in a towel, gently easing her into a cooler spot and offering sips of water.
It was a moment of relief for everyone—especially as traffic whizzed by just feet away.
Finding a Furry Forever Friend
Once out of the drain, the kitten found a new home with plumber Billy Wilmoth.
“She fit right in,” Wilmoth laughed, recalling how she’s been a purring machine ever since they walked through the door.
Their household already includes two dogs, so introductions will be supervised.
One of Wilmoth’s daughters has taken a shine to her and is campaigning for the name Queen.
If the dogs and the kitten mesh well, Queen may stay with her rescuers; if not, Wilmoth promises to find a loving household for her.
Sunshine and Second Chances
For people accustomed to Mobile’s sticky afternoons and sudden summer storms, the story feels like a friendly reminder: every storm drain, alleyway, or shadowed nook could hold a life in need of care.
It’s a testament to the kindness that thrives in our coastal neighborhoods—where a group of professionals paused their work to play hero.
Now, thanks to a little determination and a splash of compassion, a kitten that faced a lonely fate underground is curled up in a loving home, adding her own purr to the soundtrack of city life.
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