The Kitten, the Jar, and a Miracle Rescue - 1/1/25

✔️ WE GOT THE JAR OFF THE KITTEN’S HEAD!! ✔️

This is the story of a miracle kitten, a jar, and the incredible determination of a community that refused to give up.

It all started with a sweet couple who dedicate their lives to caring for stray cats and managing colonies through TNR (trap-neuter-return). Among their many rescues was a mama cat and her litter, living in the tunnels and nooks of an unfinished log cabin. They lovingly fed the colony daily, but one evening, they noticed one of the kittens—a 5-month-old—was missing.

By the third night without seeing the kitten, they knew something was wrong. And then they saw it: the missing kitten with a canning jar stuck on its head. 😭

What started as coaching over the phone quickly escalated into panic. This baby had been without food or water for four long days. The couple tried everything they could, even rallying ideas from a Facebook post filled with brilliant suggestions. They tried traps, construction fencing, and carefully dismantling the woodpile where the kitten was hiding, but nothing worked. The scared kitten became harder to approach, slipping into a nearby barn after each attempt.

That’s when Anakin’s Trails stepped in. Beth, our newest team member, brought along a deep pool net with an extended arm—a tool she believed might work. We arrived at the scene to find traps already set up, but the kitten was nowhere in sight. Driving around to the barn, we finally spotted her—jar and all.

Seeing her frozen in the light, blind and terrified, was heartbreaking. We asked the couple, who the kitten trusted most, to quietly approach and call her. She crept closer but bolted into a large cement pipe at the last moment.

Beth and I knew this was the moment for the net. After a quick (and painful) fall, Beth grabbed the net and got into position. With the couple blocking one end of the pipe and us at the other, we counted to three. Beth slammed the net over the opening, and in a panic, the kitten ran into the net, only to turn and run back toward the couple. It worked!

“The jar is in my hands!” the kitten’s rescuer yelled as the terrified kitten squirmed and slipped free of the jar. The relief was overwhelming. Despite a few scratches and a lot of adrenaline, the jar was finally off.

The kitten, still panicked, slipped away and ran back into hiding. But this time, she was free of the jar. A camera and bait were set up to ensure she returns safely to her siblings and the couple who saved her.

We’re glad to help cover any veterinary costs this brave little one may need. For now, we’re just grateful curiosity didn’t kill this cat, and her story of resilience and teamwork ended with a miracle.

No more licking jam out of jars, sweet girl. You’re free, and you’ve got an incredible community looking out for you. 🐱❤️