Kid's Keen Ears Save Kitten

James Sigler
Jacksonville, Florida

Six-year-old James Sigler was on a boat in the middle of the St. Johns River when he heard a cat meowing. At first, his father and grandfather didn't believe him. But James was certain—he knew there was a cat nearby. After his father, Mike Sigler, turned down the radio, Mike heard the meowing too.

They soon spotted a cat clinging to a nearby bridge support. The soaked animal was struggling to keep his head above water. After steering the boat closer, James's grandfather carefully scooped up the cat in a net. James wrapped the cat in a blanket and held him for two hours until they arrived home.

Since then, T.K. (short for Tough Kitty) has barely left James's side. T.K. sleeps in James's bed and follows him around the house. "It's like James has a little black and white shadow," says Mike. He adds that James has a unusually soft spot for animals. On a trip to the zoo, James wanted to take the elephants home with him because they looked sad. And when Mike tried to take James hunting, James warned the animals away.

We think T.K. isn't just tough. He's lucky too, that a kid with strong ears and an even stronger heart for animals was in the right place at the right time.

Watch James and his dad talk about the experience in the video below.

See what other kids are doing to help animals!