Watch this brave mom risk it all to rescue a kitten stranded on the top of a busy highway divider

A woman went out of her way to save a cat and it turned out to be a heartwarming twist to her vacation.

PUBLISHED 3 DAYS AGO

(L) Representative image of a woman holding a kitten, (R) Kitten jumping from the bridge (Cover Image Source: Getty Images | (L) ilkermetinkursova, (R) Sergio Amiti

Cats have well-established their sense of threat. Light on their feet, the furrballs are highly attuned to potential dangers and mostly depend on their instincts to assess the threats. However, one stray cat somehow landed on the divider of a busy highway in California with no way out. This was until a brave mom noticed the poor kitten stranded as speeding cars zoomed past it. Ryan McCaffrey embarked on a courageous feat to rescue the cat and return it to safety with her bare hands, without any assistance, as seen in footage shared by ABC7 on YouTube.

Woman feeding lonely adorable cat on the street. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images |Tunatura)

McCaffrey was heading out with her husband and kids for a vacation when they took a little detour for a life-saving endeavor. Midway through their drive, the mom spotted a terrified cat stuck on top of a divider on the Cajon Pass in California. She immediately knew what to do. McCaffrey stepped out of her car into the busy highway while her husband filmed the rescue from afar. Initially, she tried to lure the cat with food, but the animal was too scared to pay attention to it. With no progress, the mom decided to use her bare hands to grab the cat, which growled and tried to move away from her.

Mother and daughter petting abandoned cat on street. (Representative Cover Image Source: Getty Images |FG Trade)

As she approached the cat, it went feral, leaving scratches and bites on her arm. Determined to rescue the cat, McCaffrey refused to let go. Eventually, another driver stopped by and was walking towards her when she finally had the cat in her grasp. She returned to the car and fed the cat some water, and drove off to their destination. The impromptu rescue became a highlight of their vacation as the family ensured the cat was safe all along. The McCaffreys even brought the cat home and soon became a “permanent” part of the family. The video of the rescue went viral with 7,500 views and comments from viewers. “Thank you for saving the cat and the guy who was going to as well,” said @Ron-l4r3t and @tamaraia6146 mused, “She got bit, it’s her cat now.”

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The comments were brimming with applause, but a few viewers were concerned about the risks of a highway. “That lady is lucky to be alive, stopping in the Cajon Pass to rescue a cat. Someone I knew did the same thing on a much smaller highway and was run over and killed by a car. God was with the lady and the kitty. May they have a long, healthy life together,” noted @Sandra-q2f5t. Likewise, @ruthweigh5507 marked the cat as “tough,” considering it managed to survive in the heat, traffic, and the wildlife that encompasses the highway area.

A small share of critics also questioned whether the cat was really in danger, as they have superior survival instincts. After all, the myth about cats having nine lives is truly based on their extraordinary capability to survive high falls and other incidents. According to KBSPets, cats have great spatial awareness and coordination, complemented by their flexible bodies and acute reflexes.