Cats named Mario and Luigi vanish during CA wildfire — until family finds them in rubble
When a pet owner had to start evacuating because of a California wildfire, he couldn’t find two of his cats and “could only hope that Mario and Luigi would somehow find their way to safety.”
Then among the “smoldering rubble that used to be his house, he miraculously” discovered that what he had hoped for came true, Pasadena Humane said on Facebook on Feb. 1.
The day after the Eaton Fire started, the owner spotted Mario under an orange tree, the pet rescue said. But another week would pass before his family could return to what was left of their home.
“When they did, they discovered Luigi taking shelter underneath patio furniture that had somehow been untouched by the fire,” officials said. “All four of his paws were burnt, his whiskers were singed, and he was covered in debris — but he had survived.”
The owner rushed Luigi to the animal shelter, where the cat was immediately admitted to the ICU, officials said.
“We’ve been caring for him ever since, treating his burns and managing his pain as he slowly begins to heal,” the shelter said. “(The owner) and his family have been visiting Luigi regularly and can’t wait to take him home when they’re able.”
Photos show the cat’s whiskers twisted at the ends from the fire, all four burnt paws wrapped up in bulky bandages.
“Doesn’t look too happy,” someone commented under one of the photos. “He just doesn’t know how helpful this will be.”
“Our heart goes out to everyone who lost their homes or their loved ones in the fire,” the shelter said. “Although we’ve witnessed many heartbreaking stories throughout this tragedy, we have also seen so many animals like Luigi who give us hope.”
Luigi’s family commented on the post and shared a photo of the cat “patiently waiting” for his family to rescue him “under the only piece of patio furniture that miraculously survived the fire. Shoutout to IKEA for the unexpected durability!”
The Eaton Fire charred more than 14,000 acres, left 17 dead, destroyed more than 9,400 structures and damaged over 1,000 more, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. It started in early January and burned northeast of Los Angeles, including in Altadena where Luigi’s family lived.
Altadena is about a 15-mile drive northeast from Los Angeles.
This story was originally published February 3, 2025 at 6:24 PM with the headline "Cats named Mario and Luigi vanish during CA wildfire — until family finds them in rubble."
