A city in one of the driest regions on the planet, Dubai, was hit with a “historic weather event.” In 24 hours, the rainfall became the heaviest in the UAE since records began in 1949. Meaning they were the heaviest rains in over 75 years! Such a dry part of the world isn’t designed with flooding in mind. Consequently, the storms caught many off-guard despite forecasters’ warnings.
Some areas were hit by as much as 10 inches of rain, causing at least 21 fatalities, tragically including children on a school bus. Meanwhile, at the world’s second-busiest airport in Dubai, they recorded over 4 inches of rain. Usually, that’s the average total for a full year. Some reports stated two years’ worth of rain fell in the larger city, over half a foot!
With so much rain, rescuers had to navigate in boats down streets. Countless cars were submerged in rivers of greenish flash flood water. Given so much drama and tragedy, people were relieved to see one rescue, a frightened black and white cat.
Soaked Cat Somehow Clung to a Car Handle
After the flooding on April 16 2024, the soaking-wet cat somehow managed to grab hold of a submerged car’s door handle. Dubai police in an inflatable rescue boat caught the moment on camera as they approached.
Images via YouTube/AP
Looking at the scene, it’s incredible the wet cat found a place to hang on. The waters rose within inches of the handle and were moving by quickly in small waves. We don’t know how long the kitty was there. Was the cat stranded there for a few minutes or hours?
Fortunately, when the man reached out, the cat stayed put! But it took two hands as the man tried to get a grip and also get around the boat oar. At first, the kitty tried to cling to the car. But once the cat realized the man was helping, the meowing started as if to say, “Help!” or “Can you believe this?”
Once safely in the boat, the cat had a lot more to say, and they fortunately remained in place on the boat. Online, many said the cat’s last meow was a big “Thank You!”
Others praised the man’s efforts for the cat:
“Man with a heart of gold, well done,” said one person.
Another person said the cat’s tenacity gave them hope:
“That cat is an example of what will happen if you do not give up. Keep holding on. Help is on the way. Hope [you] can reunite [the cat ] with his owner,” they wrote.
Video via AP News:
Dubai Police Stopped for One Small Cat
Another video from Twitter (see below) shows a little more, including two others in the inflatable boat. It looks like they could be floating somewhere in the Florida Keys, not the arid desert of Dubai!
In 2021, we shared another cat rescue from Dubai which received international attention. It’s great to see people caring for cats here, although the area has also received criticism for its treatment of thousands of stray cats and dogs over many years.
Dubai police on the red inflatable boat who helped the cat via YouTube/Daily Mail
We know that rescuers are doing all they can to help many others caught in the storms. When natural disasters strike, we are always reminded how much each life matters – more than we can ever fully realize. The dramatic rescue of one cat is giving people just a little more faith in humanity all around the world.
Video by Daily Mail:
