Manfred John Zabinskas, of Five Freedoms Animal Rescue and East Trentham Wildlife Shelter, soon arrived to help local crew members rescue the animals. Surveying the scene, Zabinskas feared the worst.

“When I looked down the holes, I was astounded by how deep they were,” Zabinskas told The Dodo. “I immediately realized that it was going to be a difficult rescue and was worried that my equipment wouldn’t be adequate. I couldn’t recognize that the animals were cats because they were so far down and covered in dirt. They weren’t moving or making any sounds.”

Zabinskas knew his usual catching pole would be too short for the job. He’d have to dive into the hole himself if he wanted to reach them. With a rescue volunteer holding onto his legs, Zabinskas carefully extended his arms and torso into the ground, pole in hand. But the cats still weren’t moving, making them very hard to secure.

Eventually, with help from crew members, Zabinskas obtained a long pole with a hook on the end, which proved to be the perfect tool for gently scooping the cats out from underground.

Back on the surface, the anxious cats made it clear that they wanted to go home as soon as possible.

“They were terrified and wanted to run off,” Zabinskas said. “We were very careful to restrain them and not get bitten, but also to not let them slip away and end up down another hole.”

The mysterious second cat traveled to a local veterinarian, where experts checked her for injuries and made sure she had plenty of food and water. This cat will be scanned for a microchip and either reunited with a family or placed in a suitably loving home.

As for the original pet cat, she was soon safe in her family’s arms.

“The owners got their cat back with much relief and gratitude,” Five Freedoms Animal Rescue wrote in a Facebook post. “[A]t least for these [two] cats and a loving family, 2025 is looking better.” , The Dodo