A curious tabby cat found herself in a sticky situation at the bottom of a smelly skip bin but was thankfully rescued by a team of firefighters.

The little feline was discovered outside a factory in Cheltenham, located in southern Melbourne. Around 11:30 a.m. on a Thursday, a concerned bystander heard the kitten meowing and immediately called for assistance.

Responding to the call, a group of firefighters from the Melbourne Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB) arrived at the scene. A paw-printed blanket was gently placed over the terrified kitten to calm her nerves as they started the complex rescue operation.

Using an angle grinder and a battery-powered spreading tool, the firefighters carefully opened the steel drain hole to free the trapped cat.

“After 45 minutes of meticulous work, the cat was successfully released,” shared an MFB member.

Despite the frightening experience, the kitten appeared to be in good health. Now, the team is attempting to determine how long she was in the hole before being rescued.

After the rescue, the cat was entrusted to the care of an animal welfare official. They’re trying to figure out if the cat belonged to someone or if it was just a stray. This process will help decide what’s best for the cat’s future.

“The kitten was placed into the care of an animal welfare representative.” shared MFB when a comment asked about the refuge for the cat after the rescue.

With these kind-hearted animal welfare workers, the cat now has the chance to get all the care and support it needs. Most importantly, there’s hope that it’ll find a loving forever home where it can live happily for the rest of its life.