A stray cat and her
three kittens are recovering after being plucked to safety from the live
electricity substation where they had been sheltering
Engineers from UK
Power Networks had to mount a dramatic rescue after two of the kittens came
within a whisker of high voltage electrical equipment. They were joined by
volunteers from Cats Protection’s Cambridge Branch after the alarm was raised.
Power supply to
neighboring properties was cut for a short time as engineers were forced to
shut off electricity to the substation while the kittens were pulled to safety.
Thought to be aged 10
weeks, the kittens were promptly named Sparky, Flash and Joules by volunteers
at Cats Protection and their mother was named Elektra. All are now being cared
for by the charity before they are found loving new homes.
Cambridge Branch
Coordinator
Niccy Townley said a
local gardener had first raised the alarm after spotting the kittens trapped
within the six-foot high walls surrounding the substation in Elizabeth Way,
Cambridge. She said: “I immediately contacted the power company and the
engineers joined me at the site very quickly. We all had one goal – to get the
kittens out safely. “I managed to catch the mother cat very easily but because
the kittens were not used to people they were very wary and difficult to catch.
Two of them dashed inside the substation and at that point it became extremely
dangerous as they were very close to a high voltage area.
“The engineer arranged
for the power to be shut off, but there was a very tense wait until this
happened. All the time we were keeping everything crossed that the kittens
didn’t move. If they did, they would have certainly been electrocuted.
“Fortunately, they
stayed still and as soon as the power was off we were able to grab them. It was
such a relief to get hold of them and we were all so pleased to have such a
good outcome.” Elektra is likely to have crept into the power station looking
for a warm and secluded spot to give birth to her kittens.
Niccy said: “Elektra is
a lovely, friendly cat, so it’s likely she was once a pet who has perhaps been
abandoned and left to fend for herself. As she was not neutered, she would have
become pregnant very young and has done her best to raise her kittens. “Despite
their tough outdoor start in life, the kittens are in remarkably good
condition. Elektra had obviously done a great job looking after them. While
they are lovely kittens, they’re not used to people so we will be working very
hard to socialise them and get them ready for homing. They will also be
neutered and vaccinated, ready to find a new home – somewhere a lot more
suitable than a power station!
“We’re so grateful for
all the help from UK Power Networks. It’s really heartening that they went the
extra mile to make sure these kittens were safe.” Cats Protection helps around
200,000 cats and kittens each year through a national network of over 250
volunteer-run branches and 32 centres.
