The Mother Cat Who Ran Into a Burning Building Five Times

When New York City firefighter David Giannelli arrived at a burning garage in Brooklyn in March 1996, he heard kittens crying. Three were huddled beside the building, and another two were across the street.

Their mother had been carrying them away from the fire, one at a time. By the time Giannelli found her, the stray cat was so badly burned that her eyes had swollen shut and much of the fur around her face was gone.

She would become known as Scarlett, the mother cat whose desperate efforts to save her five kittens made headlines around the world.

Five Kittens Trapped in a Burning Garage

Scarlett had been living with her kittens in an abandoned two-story garage in the East New York neighborhood of Brooklyn. The kittens were only about four weeks old when a fire broke out in the building in late March 1996.

As flames spread through the garage, Scarlett began moving her babies to safety. Accounts of the rescue describe her repeatedly returning through the heat and smoke, carrying each kitten away from the burning building.

Firefighters arrived within minutes, but the building was dangerous and crews had been ordered not to enter. Giannelli, a 19-year veteran of the fire department, began searching after hearing the kittens crying.

He found three kittens beside the garage and another two across the street. Their mother was lying behind some rubble in a nearby vacant lot.

Her ears and paws were burned, her whiskers had been singed away, and the skin around her eyes was badly blistered. She was barely moving, but all five kittens had made it out of the building.

One widely retold detail from the rescue describes Scarlett touching each kitten with her nose before finally collapsing.

A Firefighter Who Loved Animals

Giannelli was already known around his firehouse for helping injured and abandoned animals. He kept cans of pet food on his truck and had previously arranged care for animals he encountered during emergency calls.

He gathered Scarlett and her kittens and contacted North Shore Animal League in Port Washington, New York. The shelter agreed to take the entire family, and veterinary staff immediately began treating their injuries.

Scarlett needed extensive care. Her burns were severe, and damage around her eyes left her unable to see properly. She eventually lost her left eyelid and required ongoing treatment to protect the injured eye.

The kittens had suffered from heat and smoke exposure, but initially appeared to be in better condition than their mother. Sadly, one of the five later died after becoming ill during recovery.

The four surviving kittens continued improving while Scarlett spent roughly three months receiving treatment. As her burns healed, much of her fur began growing back, and she gradually regained her sight.

Thousands of People Wanted to Adopt Her

News of Scarlett’s rescue spread quickly. Newspapers and television stations began covering her recovery, and the shelter received calls and letters from people who wanted to help.

The response was enormous. Contemporary reports described thousands of adoption requests, and The New York Times eventually reported that more than 7,000 letters had arrived from people interested in adopting Scarlett or one of her kittens.

Some inquiries came from as far away as Japan and the Netherlands. People also donated money to help care for Scarlett and other animals needing medical attention.

The four surviving kittens were eventually adopted in pairs. Finding the right home for Scarlett required more thought because her injuries meant she would need continued attention and eye care.

Among the people who applied was Karen Wellen, a New York woman who had previously cared for a cat for 21 years. That cat had died while Wellen was recovering from a serious car accident, and the experience had left a lasting impression on her.

When Wellen decided she was ready to adopt another animal, she specifically asked for one with special needs. The shelter decided she would be a good match for Scarlett.

A New Home After Three Months of Recovery

On June 27, 1996, Scarlett finally left North Shore Animal League with Wellen. The badly burned stray who had been found beside an abandoned garage now had a permanent home.

Scarlett spent time at Wellen’s family home in the Marine Park neighborhood of Brooklyn and at her apartment in Greenwich Village. Her injuries required ongoing attention, but she had recovered enough to settle into a much quieter life.

Her story remained popular for years. Books were written about her rescue, she appeared on television, and in September 2000, North Shore Animal League presented her with its first Scarlett Award for Animal Heroism.

The award was named in her honor to recognize extraordinary acts of courage by animals. Scarlett herself received a crystal feeding dish.

Twelve Years With the Woman Who Loved Her

Scarlett lived with Wellen for approximately 12 years after the fire. By then, the kittens she had carried from the burning garage had long since grown up in homes of their own.

On October 11, 2008, Scarlett died at an estimated 13 years old after struggling with serious health problems. Wellen held her in her arms while her mother softly sang “You Are So Beautiful.”

Wellen later spoke about how peaceful Scarlett’s final moments had been and how much she had loved her.

After Scarlett’s death, her ashes were placed on her favorite windowsill, where she had spent so many quiet hours looking outside.