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I was grocery shopping one day and needed additional groceries that the store where I was shopping didn’t have. I wanted to head home because I was tired, but something made me drive to the next store.

About three miles before my next grocery store, the busy highway I was on had construction going on for quite some time. As I was driving, I saw a little furball up the road running across this busy highway with a construction worker chasing it. When I was closer, I saw it was a tiny kitten.

KITTEN. PHOTO: PIXABAY / IAN LINDSAY

Without thinking, I slammed on the brakes, turned on the flashers, and jumped out of my car. I wasn’t thinking of anything but saving this kitten. I joined the construction worker and I don’t even know what I said, as everything seemed to be happening so fast.

The kitten made it across all four lanes. I don’t know how he made it, but he hid in a huge Caterpillar dump truck tire tread. The treads on this dump truck were deep, and we couldn’t get this tiny kitten out because it was scared of all the noise and from being chased. We were being careful so as to not let the kitten escape again and run back into traffic.

We finally did get the kitten out, and I held him really tight in my arms so no escape was possible. I asked the construction worker if he could take the kitten, and of course he said he was working and he couldn't. Another lady stopped to see what the commotion was, and I asked her if she wanted a kitten. She said she had dogs and could not take this kitten.

KITTEN. PHOTO: PIXABAY / BIRGIT

I already had a 20-year-old cat that needs daily fluid injections due to renal failure and was quite busy with her, but I didn’t want to bring this cute little furball to the shelter so I decided to keep him. I named him Clayton, after the name of the town in which I found him, and I love him more than anything.

I will never know why Clayton was on this highway, if somebody just dumped him or his mom had a litter in the woods and he wandered off. I try not to think about it because it would break my heart if somebody just dumped him, as I could not fathom somebody having the heart to do this to any animal.

He has had all his shots, is neutered, and is happy in our home. He will always be an inside cat, no more outside life for Clayton.

PHOTO: MARLENE NAGENGAST

Story submitted by Marlene Nagengast from Smithfield, North Carolina.

This story was originally shared on The Animal Rescue Site. Share your very own rescue story here!