Army veteran in tears after cat rescues him from 16-hour-long agony: 'I relive it a million times'

A furry companion became more than just a pet to its owner, Ron Williams, when it saved his life. As reported by Crosswalk, the 84-year-old army veteran recounts the incident, talking about how his new cat, Fluffy, saved his life as he accidentally slipped and fell while stepping out of the shower with no aid nearby. 

It had not been long before Williams had adopted Fluffy from a friend. The little feline and Williams had an instant connection, and he knew this was the pet he wanted to keep by his side. During the initial weeks, the owner started talking to their pet, a classic thing all pet parents do, and this was when Williams used to joke with him whenever he got a call. He shared with Fox 17, “'The phone would ring, and I would say, ‘Ring-a-ding,’ and I didn’t know he’d pick up on it.'"

This habit of Fluffy was exactly what helped save the life of his owner. Williams shares the incident in detail, talking about how he was normally stepping out of the shower one day when he accidentally slipped just outside it and fell. He shared, “My arm was pinned under me, and the hours kept going by, sixteen hours.” Williams met with the accident at 8 am and was lying in agony until midnight, when he suddenly remembered the phone trick Fluffy had learned. In that moment, he called out to his beloved pet, "So I said, ‘Ring-a-ding, Fluffy. You’re my only hope... And he was. It wasn’t even five minutes later that I felt something hit my hand. And I’m here because of it." 

The something Williams felt in his hand was his cellphone, and immediately he was able to call for help. Lucky for Williams, Fluffy was in the same room as him, keeping him company when he thought of a final attempt that could save his life. Williams' life alert was in another room on the charger as well, and his cellphone was in his bathroom, but it was out of reach. It was thanks to Fluffy's presence in the room that brought the army veteran out of sheer distress after more than 16 hours. 

Williams had served with the U.S. Army in Korea and now lives alone with his beloved cat, Fluffy. Thankfully, the 84-year-old man didn't suffer from any major injuries and only had mild soreness and bruises. Williams shared his profound gratitude, stating, "I relive it a million times. What if he wouldn’t have been in there with me? I’d be dead today." The story is no short of a miracle and reminds us again of how our furry companions can offer more than just company and cuddles. 

An ASU Canine Science Collaboratory study reveals that pets will rescue their owners in distress — if they can find a way, that is. Published in PLOS One, this study examined 60 dogs by putting their owners in make-believe 'distress situations.' The researchers convinced the dogs that their owners were "trapped," in an effort to map their emotional connection and urgency in such situations. Placed inside a box, the owners were to make noise alerting the dogs to their distress, hoping that their companion would rush to slide the "lightweight door" and rescue them. In another box, the researchers had placed treats. The results determined that one-third of dogs rescued their owners instantly, and one-third were also motivated to reach in for a treat. Researchers concluded that this indicates that dogs associate the act of 'saving a life' with getting a 'reward,' which can explain their spontaneous urgency.