She knew she had to help.
Late one rainy night in Costa Mesa, California, a woman named Siena was startled awake by a piercing sound outside her apartment. At first, she wasn’t sure what she was hearing — but something in her gut told her it was the desperate cry of a kitten in trouble.
It was 1 a.m., and while most of the neighborhood was asleep, Siena knew she couldn’t ignore the sound. She stepped outside into the drizzle, listening carefully. By the time she reached the street, the cries had stopped. But Siena wasn’t ready to give up.
Following the Cry for Help
To test her theory, Siena made a soft meowing sound. Almost instantly, the mysterious cries returned, guiding her straight to the source: a tiny, terrified kitten perched on top of an electrical box.
The baby was soaked from the rain, shaking and alone. Siena knew immediately that leaving her out there wasn’t an option.
“It was raining out, and I was like, ‘OK, I can’t leave her out here,’” Siena told The Dodo.
She carefully scooped the kitten into her shirt to keep her warm, carried her inside, and gently wiped the crust from around her little eyes. With some leftover cat food she kept for feeding neighborhood strays, she gave the kitten her first real meal in days.
Exhausted but safe, the kitten curled up and quickly drifted off to sleep.
“She really didn’t fight me,” Siena said. “I think she was tired. I don’t know how long she was there.”
A Kitten Alone for Days
The next morning, Siena asked around to see if anyone knew the kitten’s story. A few workers at a nearby restaurant admitted they had seen her wandering across the street days earlier but were unable to catch her.
It broke Siena’s heart to realize that this tiny baby had been fending for herself in the rain and traffic for so long.
Although Siena had already grown attached to her, she knew she couldn’t keep the kitten. Her work as a tattoo artist meant long, unpredictable hours, and she wanted to make sure the little one ended up in a home where she would get constant love and attention.
Finding the Perfect Match
Fortunately, Siena didn’t have to look far. One of her friends, a fellow animal lover, agreed to foster the kitten. The plan was temporary at first — just until they could find a permanent home.
But the moment the kitten arrived, it was clear she was right where she belonged. She immediately bonded with her new feline housemate and even got along with the family’s dog.
Before long, Siena’s friend made the decision official: the kitten wasn’t going anywhere. She had already stolen their hearts.
They gave her a unique new name — Ashtray — and welcomed her as a permanent member of the family.
A Happy Ending in a Loving Home
Now, Ashtray spends her days playing, cuddling, and enjoying the warmth and security of a real home.
“She just looks very at home and happy with the other animals,” Siena said, relieved to know that the kitten she rescued from the rain is thriving.
While saying goodbye was bittersweet, Siena takes comfort in knowing that the little kitten she saved in the middle of the night is now surrounded by love.
Ashtray may have started her life alone and scared, but thanks to a stranger who listened to her cries, she’s now part of a big, happy family.