Lowe’s Employees Had to Use a Forklift to Rescue 7 Newborn Kittens From a High Shelf
"I'm just glad we got them early because once they start crawling around, they could fall and die.”
Yes, you read that right. A forklift — the kind that moves lumber and concrete — was deployed to rescue seven tiny, mewing kittens from a top shelf inside a Pennsylvania Lowe’s store.
Employees at the Lowe’s on Cornerstone Boulevard in Downingtown, Pennsylvania, had no idea what was waiting for them when they went to pull down a pallet in the Garden Center.
Tucked inside boxes on the highest shelf, hidden from view and barely audible over the noise of the busy store, were two litters of newborn kittens.
“There’s no way anybody would see them, you can hardly hear anything in there, it’s busy,” Lisa Newton, of Lucky Dawg Animal Rescue, told WPVI.
A Forklift, Two Litters of Newborn Kittens and One Wild Saturday
The discovery prompted a rescue call to Lucky Dawg Animal Rescue, a foster-based nonprofit in Chester County, Pennsylvania, run entirely by volunteers. Newton, who manages cat and kitten rescue for the organization, responded on a Saturday.
What she found was remarkable.
Two feral mother cats had apparently liked the Garden Center so much they chose it as their delivery room. Seven kittens in total — estimated to be three or four weeks old — were nestled high above the store floor, completely out of reach without heavy equipment.
“They had to get the forklift and go up and get them. One of the litters, you could tell that’s where the mom had delivered them,” Newton told WPVI.
The timing mattered. The kittens still required bottle-feeding and constant care, and the high shelf posed a real danger.
“I’m just glad we got them early because once they start crawling around, they could fall and die,” Newton added.
Meet Forklift, Herb, Pallet and the Rest of the Crew
Now for the best part: the names. In honor of their hardware store origins, the seven kittens were given names only a Lowe’s litter could carry — Forklift, Herb, Pallet, Planter, Grass Seed, Lowe and Rose.
The internet, predictably, had thoughts. On Facebook, one commenter wrote: “Please name one ‘Bob the Builder’ and ‘Tool Man Tim.’ Love this catch!!! Thanks for all you do!!!”
Both mother cats fled during the rescue. Because they are feral, catching them hasn’t been simple.
Lucky Dawg set humane traps and shared an update in a Facebook post: “The moms, who are feral, ran off during the rescue, but humane traps have been set and we are hopeful we’ll be able to bring them to safety soon as well.”
One mother has since been located. Rescuers are still searching for the second. The organization plans to spay and neuter both mothers to prevent additional litters.
When Can You Adopt Forklift and Friends?
The kittens are currently being bottle-fed and cared for at Newton’s home. They will be available for adoption in approximately six to seven weeks, once they are old enough.
If you’re already mentally rearranging your living room to make space, you’re not alone. More than two dozen people have already commented on the rescue’s Facebook post asking to be notified about adoptions.
Lucky Dawg Animal Rescue focuses on homeless, abused and unwanted animals, working to match them with suitable adoptive homes and staying involved after adoption. Interested adopters can apply through Lucky Dawg’s website.
Somewhere in Downingtown, a Lowe’s Garden Center shelf just became the most famous maternity ward in retail history.
Conversation
All comments are subject to our Community Guidelines. Woman's World does not endorse the opinions and views shared by our readers in our comment sections. Our comments section is a place where readers can engage in healthy, productive, lively, and respectful discussions. Offensive language, hate speech, personal attacks, and/or defamatory statements are not permitted. Advertising or spam is also prohibited.
