Last week, the Kirkland Foundation team received a desperate call from a homeowner who had been hearing chilling cries echoing through her bathroom walls.
“She said there was howling coming from inside the walls,” the foundation later shared on Facebook.
Rescuer Joey Phipps quickly arrived at the scene, joined by Brandi and Sydney Sherman from Fresno T.N.R. The situation felt eerily familiar — not long ago, they had faced a similar case when a cat became trapped behind the walls of a retail store bathroom.
As soon as they entered the house, their suspicions were confirmed. Two kittens had apparently been playing in the attic when they slipped through an opening and fell into the narrow wall cavity, unable to climb back out.
Unfortunately, there was only one solution — to cut through the walls to reach them.
The homeowner hesitated at first, understandably reluctant to have holes cut into her bathroom, but she soon agreed once she realized it was the only way to save the trapped kittens.
“Once she accepted that a little impromptu remodeling was necessary, Joey carefully opened sections of the wall, pulled the kittens out, and passed them to the Fresno T.N.R. team for cleanup,” the foundation wrote.
The rescuers watched anxiously as the first kitten was lifted out from behind the toilet — dusty but alive and healthy. Moments later, another section of wall was removed near the sink, and the second kitten emerged, shaking off debris but otherwise unharmed.
After making sure no more animals were stuck, the team brought the rescued duo back to the Kirkland Foundation’s headquarters. There, cofounder Su Kim examined them, confirming that both were in good health and only needed food, water, and rest.
Now, the once-trapped kittens are safe, comfortable, and enjoying their new temporary home — in another bathroom, this time Su Kim’s.
“The little ones are now cozy and howling again — but happily this time,” the foundation shared.