Bri Smith was doing yard work outside her Los Angeles home when an unusual sound stopped her in her tracks.
“At first, it sounded like a strange bird,” she said.
“But the longer I listened, the more it sounded like a kitten.”
Following the noise up the street, Smith came upon a pile of rubble — and there, peeking out from between broken concrete blocks, was a tiny kitten meowing nonstop. It was clear the little one was in distress.
A Delicate Rescue Begins
With the help of her husband and some Churu treats, Smith gently coaxed the kitten out. As soon as they had him safely in hand, another kitten darted out — and they managed to scoop that one up too.
Worried there might be more kittens still trapped, Smith brought the two to safety and rushed back to the rubble pile. Sure enough, two more tiny faces emerged. She was able to catch one — an especially small kitten who was missing a leg.
“He was so light it felt like holding a leaf,” she said.
“I knew he wouldn’t have survived much longer on his own.”
Though she searched thoroughly, the fourth kitten managed to slip away.
Safe and Sound — Mostly
Back home, Smith created a cozy space for the three kittens with food, water, and comfort. She gave them names with help from her TikTok followers: Rubble, Mr. Spicy, and Biggie.
The trio quickly settled into their new life — playing, grooming, and growing stronger each day.
Rubble and Biggie warmed up quickly, but Mr. Spicy lived up to his name, staying cautious and feisty… until one day, he melted into Smith’s hand for his first real cuddle.
Still, Smith couldn’t stop thinking about the fourth kitten. She teamed up with Luxe Paws LA and Boyle Heights Cats, setting humane traps and rotating food types in hopes of luring the missing baby to safety — but days passed with no success.
A Familiar Face — and an Unexpected Twist
While continuing her search, Smith encountered a familiar face — the kittens’ mom. She realized it was a stray she regularly fed in her neighborhood. With help from the rescues, the mother cat was spayed and safely released back into her community.
Eventually, the three rescued kittens were ready to move in with a foster family. Though saying goodbye was bittersweet, Smith was comforted knowing they were headed to loving homes. Still, her heart ached for the one left behind.
Then, just as hope was fading, fate stepped in.
“I was scrolling Instagram one day and gasped out loud,” Smith recalled.
“I instantly recognized the face — it was the missing kitten.”
Amazingly, the kitten had crawled into a nearby car and was taken to a local shelter by a neighbor. Against all odds, she was now safe — and Smith could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Every Life Matters
Thanks to Smith’s intuition, persistence, and kindness — and support from two dedicated rescue groups — all four kittens survived what could have been a tragic story.
To help other animals like Rubble, Mr. Spicy, Biggie, and their sibling, consider donating to Luxe Paws LA or Boyle Heights Cats.
