WEST ROGERS PARK — North Side neighbors watched in horror as a kitten leapt to freedom from a third-floor window, apparently to escape a cat-filled apartment loaded with animal waste.
The orange kitty survived the getaway plunge. West Rogers Park neighbors named him Kurt Vonnecat, and rushed to gather pillows in case any others tried to make the more than 20-foot jump. The neighbors stood with the pillows under the window in the 2200 block of West Jarvis Street last week until help arrived.
By the end of the week, city workers got into the apartment and rescued a total of 11 cats.
After neighbors saw the jump, they looked up and could see more cats through the third-floor window. Fearing they were abandoned and in trouble, they rounded up the pillows for a soft landing.
Kelly Bauer says all the cats made it out safely:
Neighbor Marianne Eberhardt said she was driving home last week when she saw two neighbors holding pillows underneath a window. They told her about the orange kitten and the others still inside.
Eberhardt and a friend helped the neighbors, she said, contacting police for help and watching the rest of the cats when the orange kitten jumped. The neighbors took the cat to a vet, where they learned the kitten was OK, Eberhardt said.
Police got into the building and said the apartment where the cats were staying was covered in cat urine and feces, Eberhardt said. They closed the window where the cats were trying to jump from, returned the orange kitten to its mother and left, Eberhardt said.
Animal Care and Control was contacted and got into the apartment on Friday after an unsuccessful attempt on Thursday, Director Brad Powers said. Animal Control rescued 11 cats, who are being cared for by shelter staff, Powers said.
The cats will be held until at least Friday; if unclaimed by an owner, Animal Control will "evaluate the animals to determine whether the cats are suitable for adoption or transfer to an area rescue agency," Powers said.
DNAinfo called a number for the building manager posted on the front of the building, but the number was disconnected.
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here:
