Team Efforts Save Family of Cats Living in a Drain

Photo Credit: African Tails

The kittens were around 5 weeks old and had only ever known life inside the pipes. Now they’re safe, healthy, and looking for their forever homes.

Cape Town, South Africa (01 February 2026) – For months, a female cat was making the rounds. She’d rush between the streets, often frequenting a nearby Spar where employees made sure there was shelter and food for her.

One day, a resident of the neighbourhood noticed her entering a stormwater drain across the road from his house. When he checked, he discovered a family of little kittens there, too.

He kept watch, even lowering food and water into the drain while the mom cat slowly got used to the extra meals. At first, only three kittens were spotted. Then a fourth little face appeared.

Because of the layout of the drains and connecting pipes, trapping was the only safe way to get the cats out. African Tails stepped in, securing a foster home with Lana and pulling together support from Ikram of Bo-Kaap Cats, AACL (who helped with nets), Verushka, and Alma – African Tails’ former general manager – who assisted with setting the traps.

Day one saw mom cat safely trapped, but there was no sign of the kittens. Concern quickly grew. Had they moved? Were they stuck? Had someone taken them? Then, late on day two, everything happened at once.

As Alma adjusted one of the traps, she heard faint cries. Using a spotlight, she spotted the kittens through the drain pipes on the opposite side of the road. With patience, a net and all hands on deck, all four kittens were finally rescued, just an hour before the rain arrived.

Mom cat, now named Molly, was tested, sterilised and brought into foster care, but she was extremely stressed. During this time, a serious toe injury was discovered, likely caused during trapping and made worse while she tried to escape. Vets confirmed that a toe amputation was the only option.

Vet Clin performed the surgery successfully, and because Molly needed intensive aftercare, Tygerberg Animal Hospital in Green Point kindly took her in for two weeks to manage her recovery.

Molly is now healing well, and a staff member from TAH Green Point has offered to foster her while her future is assessed. Her kittens are around eight weeks old, thriving, and ready for homes. They were spared a life of simply surviving out there, and now African Tails is hoping to find them the loving families they deserve.