Broome couple find happiness after kitten's rescue

A tiny kitten which survived two days in a stormwater drain during severe rainfall has been given a second chance thanks to a Broome couple.

The animal, believed to be between 10 and 12 weeks old, was discovered in the drain at Broome Boulevard Shopping Centre on February 9.

Concerned resident Marissa Branch said she and her partner Mitchell Fowler alerted centre staff after hearing the kitten's cries.

"We were just leaving the boulevard and I heard this meow, and I thought initially it was coming from a car but then it echoed so I looked down in the storm grate and there were these eyes reflected back."

The couple said they spent four hours trying to rescue the cat before rain set in, but were unsuccessful.

"The low was coming and we didn't want to just leave it so we tried to get the water from the drain to drain by moving some of the silt," Miss Branch said.

"After many hours, it just started pouring down with rain."

She said she felt despondent at that point because she was concerned for the kitten's welfare.

The following day, Shire of Broome rangers were notified, along with animal group SAFE Broome and together with the help of a pest control worker who was contracted by centre management, the kitten was extracted from the drain and taken to Broome Veterinary Hospital.

SAFE Broome president Sandra Moore said the animal was lucky to be alive and that it was not uncommon for cats to hide to escape bad weather.

Miss Branch and Mr Fowler adopted the kitten last Thursday and called her Ahyoka - a Native American name of Cherokee origin which means "she brought happiness".