Published Mar 1, 2025
Heidi and Chris were driving to his parents’ house to check on them during Hurricane Beryl when they saw a scared kitten crossing the highway. After struggling to catch him, these former dog people were in for an adventure! They knew nothing about cats, had no internet or phone access, and it was close to 100° F outside with no power.
An evasive kitten
The first challenge for the couple was catching the kitten. This wasn’t a simple task, as he was scared and doing everything he could to get away.
He hid in some bushes, trembling. Chris dug around trying to find him in the foliage, only to lose him again in a fountain. Chris jumped right in after him and finally managed to snatch him up. “He held up this wet, drowned-looking kitten,” Heidi said. Chris had cuts on his arms and wrists from their struggle.
Heidi wrapped the kitten in a hoodie and they brought him to the vet, where they thought they’d leave him.
Just for a few days…
The veterinarian’s office was also without power and only had one light. They were unable to house a kitten unless it was an emergency, and advised that the couple bring him home for a few days until the chaos from the hurricane died down.
Heidi says that they knew nothing about cats at the time. She’d never even held one before! They couldn’t research online or even call a friend for help, and most of the nearby stores were closed due to power outages.
First, they tried feeding him a protein shake, which was the closest thing they had to milk. They only learned later that most cats are lactose intolerant!
They also tried to feed the kitten some ground beef, but he wouldn’t eat either of their offerings.
Next, they remembered seeing a cat in their neighbor’s window. They weren’t close with him, but decided to knock on the door and see if he had any cat food. He kindly gave them a bag of kibble and a lickable treat.
Falling in love
Once they had him home, it was impossible not to fall in love with the rambunctious kitten, who they named Simba. Soon, they’d decided to keep him.
Heidi says that Simba and Chris fell in love, and she couldn’t imagine taking them away from each other. She loved getting to watch their relationship develop.
They also believe that Simba pairs well with their dog, a Siberian Husky who is very catlike. They say she’s a princess who doesn’t like water or getting dirty.
Simba, on the other hand, “acts more like a dog than our dog.” He’s constantly trying to get outside and has a friendly personality. He even drinks from the toilet!
The two animals have a sibling rivalry, mostly instigated by Simba. He likes to pick on the dog and play with her tail.
Heidi and Chris were able to use the last of her phone battery to document the process of finding and adopting Simba, since they didn’t have anything else to do in the storm. You can find more of their story on Heidi’s YouTube.
