Every mother knows that she would do anything to protect her little ones, even if it meant losing her own life. And although not all human mothers are a clear example of this, animals do know that love has no limits for them.
The story of this exemplary mother cat has transcended the years and is still alive in the hearts of those who witnessed an unprecedented act of bravery and heroism.
It was March 30, 1996 when there was a terrible fire in an abandoned garage in Brooklyn, New York.
This was the home of this mother named Scarlett, and her 5 kittens, barely four weeks old.
When firefighters managed to exterminate the fire, they noticed that the feline mother, despite her burns and blisters in her eyes and ears, was carrying her kittens with great care and delicacy, one by one, and returned for another….
She did this up to 5 times to rescue her 5 little ones… Heroine is an understatement…!
Due to the burns, Scarlett could no longer see, so by touching her kittens’ faces and noses, she made sure they were alive and out of danger.
We can’t imagine the desperation this worried mother must have felt, not knowing how the nightmare would end. But, if there was one thing she was sure of, it was that she had to save them no matter what.
When her rescue was over, the invincible kitten understandably collapsed unconscious.
“Scarlett herself had been severely burned in the process of pulling her kittens out of the fire. Most of her facial hair had been burned off. Her eyes were blistered shut, her ears and paws burned, and her coat badly singed,” said the firefighter who witnessed it all, David Giannelli.
Her incredible motherly love led her to do something truly inexplicable – the miracles of love!
The North Shore Animal League was the organization that responded to the surviving mother’s call, and healed the wounds of the feline family, although unfortunately only 4 kittens survived.
Scarlett and her surviving baby were fostered by Karen Wellen, who provided much love and care for over 12 years, until she sadly passed away, on October 11, 2008.
She crossed the rainbow bridge to be forever remembered as the symbolic mother.
Her powerful story captured the attention of local and international media and was the inspiration for articles, reports and books, including “Scarlett Saves Her Family” and “The Bravest Cat”.
Her impressive gesture of love happened decades ago and is still remembered by all.
This is the story of an unflappable and invincible mother who did not hesitate a single second to save her little ones, risking her own life, giving human moms the best of lessons and showing how far the love of a self-sacrificing mother can go.
True love knows no limits, no obstacles and no fears.
Undoubtedly, Scarlett was a great mother and a true heroine. It is beautiful to know that after all she had to go through, she lived with people who truly loved her and cared for her until the end of her days. It was the least she deserved.
We hope that her great legacy will serve to make other human mothers reflect on whether their title of mother lives up to their dedication and selflessness for the creatures that life entrusted to them.
Let us honor Scarlett’s memory, may her name be remembered forever and may her story serve so that, knowing the greatness of her heart, no one else will ever think of mistreating these noble animals.
