Panthers of ISKL #279: The Kitten Rescuers
Meet four HS students who are members of ISKL’s PAWS (Protection of Animal Welfare and Safety) club - Teal C. ('26), Leila M. ('27), Rowan C. ('28), and Helena S. ('27) - each of whom took bold action to rescue stray kittens in need.
Teal, Leila, and Rowan worked together to save four kittens trapped in a sewer. Over two days, they used food, patience, and teamwork to bring them to safety and into loving homes. Helena found a severely weak kitten in her garage, cared for it through recovery, and adopted it as part of the family.
Here are their stories:
Leila M. (‘27), Rowan C. (‘28) & Teal C. (26)
Can you walk us through the moment you found the kittens—how did it all unfold?
Teal: I was running down the street when I saw a kitten in a sewer. It looked like a stray, and I observed the mother cat nearby. I ran home and texted Leila a picture of the kitten.
Leila: I immediately replied, almost frantic. I asked my mom if she'd be willing to help rescue the kitten. She said it was a good mission to tackle on my own. I grabbed the carrier and cat food, then sprinted to Teal's place. Teal described the scene, and we hopped in the car with Rowan and their Dad to look for the area where the kitten was spotted. Once we had located the spot, we initiated our plan with high hopes of rescuing the kitten, which, at the time, we believed was the only one.
Teal: I directed the way to where I found the kitten and its mother. After carefully coaxing with food, we realized there were four kittens instead of one. We looked for the mother, but she was nowhere to be found.
Rowan: The process was hard because the kittens didn't trust us. Our only hope was that the cat food trick would work. After a while, one kitten came out, and I helped grab it and put it into the open cage. It was getting dark, so it was harder to see them.
Leila: I grabbed the second kitten, luring it out with food on a leaf. It gained our trust and walked out just enough so I could grab it by the scruff of the neck (where mother cats like to grab their kittens), and gently placed it in the carrier. After a long, sweaty, dirty, but hopeful night, we headed home with two kittens. (They spent the night at Teal's house) The next night, we returned, and it began to rain. Hard. Rowan snatched the last two; it was a miracle. Even dirtier and grosser than the night before. But it was over; the kittens had been acquired. Yippee!
What made you stop and help, especially with the pouring rain and challenging conditions?
Leila: Our moral compasses, of course. I'd seen cats on the street before, but this was an opportunity to bond and do something inspiring and honorable. Those cats didn't deserve that kind of life.
Teal: We knew that since the kittens were living in a sewer and were still very young, if we didn't get them out in time, the sewer could have filled with rainwater, and the kittens could have met a fateful end. We wanted to get them off the streets as soon as possible because we didn't want them to get any more diseases, potentially.
Teal and Rowan, you ended up adopting one and rehoming the others. Can you share the process of finding homes for them and what factors influenced your decision to keep one of them?
Teal: We used the ISKL want ads, and our family friend made a poster of the four kittens. We found a home that could support one of them and another home that could support two. My sister and I tried with great determination to convince our parents to get one, and eventually, they gave in. Now, they have as much love for our cat, Callie, as we do.
What was the most uplifting part of the entire rescue journey?
Leila: Seeing the recovery from dirty, diseased, sewage-infested cats to adorable, fluffy kittens.
Teal: Getting actually to adopt one of them. If it weren't for this adventure, I wouldn't have gotten the chance to experience the cat life. Callie is my new best friend.
Rowan: Finally having a pet after begging my parents for so many years to get one.
How did your involvement with PAWS (Protection of Animal Welfare and Safety) at ISKL support or inspire this rescue?
Leila: Well, not to brag, but my mom runs it. She's super passionate about animal welfare and safety in general. Hsia J. (27) and I are both club executives, and we learned the value of rescuing as many animals as possible in different ways. If it weren't for this club, this would've never happened, I'm sure.
Rowan: I'm also an active member of PAWS, and I've enjoyed the experience so far, especially when we visit the animal shelter. I was excited to do something that finally made an impact.
What advice would you give to students who want to make an impact in animal rescue or advocacy?
Teal: Take any opportunities you see around the community; don't be afraid to sign up for a club like PAWS, help donate to an animal shelter, or rescue a stray cat you come across, provided you have the right materials.
Helena S. (‘27)
Can you tell us the story of how you found Peanut? What was it like when you discovered the kitten in your garage?
I was in my room when my dad called and said there was a kitten in the garage. I rushed down and saw this tiny kitten in really bad shape. She looked so fragile. I’ve never seen anything like it.
What made you decide to take action and help Peanut right then and there?
The moment I saw her, I knew I couldn’t leave her. Letting her die wasn’t even an option. I picked her up and brought her to my room right away. My parents didn’t even try to stop me. They knew I wouldn’t give up on her.
You chose to adopt Peanut and give the kitten a forever home. What was that journey like—from rescue to adoption—and what made you decide to keep Peanut?
I was never really a cat person before, but Peanut changed that. Watching her grow and knowing she was safe made it all worth it. We built such a strong bond—I just knew I had to keep her. She has changed me so much that I’ve even adopted a second cat!
Looking back, what was the most heartwarming or uplifting part of Peanut’s rescue story?
At first, I didn’t think she’d survive. The vet even said it would be tough—she refused to eat and couldn’t even stand. Seeing her become healthy and full of energy has been the best part. Now, whenever I call her name, she runs to me every time. It’s the sweetest thing.
How has being a PAWS (Protection of Animal Welfare and Safety) member at ISKL influenced or supported your interest in helping animals?
The club supported me during the rescue. Ms. Gloria Hewitt taught me a lot about caring for cats. I couldn’t have done it without her.
What would you say to other students who want to get involved in animal rescue or support animal welfare causes?
Helping even one animal can make a huge difference. It’s such a rewarding experience. Don’t be afraid to ask for help—there are always people who’ll support you. And if you’re thinking about getting a pet, I recommend adopting instead of buying. There are so many amazing animals out there waiting for a forever home!
Do you know of any student, teacher, parent, or staff who always have an anecdote to tell, love to share some insights into their passions and interest, or simply is a Panther through and through? Nominate them to be featured in our Panthers of ISKL stories by sending in your submissions here.