Reddit | BasedOnAir

Fireman Rescues Terrified Cat From Burning Building In Viral Photo

Updated September 6, 2021

It's not very often we see a cat looking particularly scared or vulnerable.

In my experience, even the sweetest fur baby usually wears a pretty nondescript expression, making it super difficult for us to figure out what they're actually thinking or feeling.

But as hard as it is to decipher our cats' stoic, adorable little faces, there is something to be said about those four-legged felines who have been through something absolutely terrifying, and definitely know it.

Take this poor little kitty, for instance.

This unnamed fur baby recently went viral after it was photographed being rescued from a burning building.

Reddit | BasedOnAir

It's not hard to figure out why so many people have been touched by this picture. You can visibly see the terror and subsequent relief on this cat's face as a fireman carries it away from danger.

Just look at the way it has its head rested against its rescuer's shoulder, and its wide, traumatized eyes. As scared as it is, it also looks supremely grateful for the man who carried it to safety.

Someone pass the tissues!

Apparently, this cat was one of several who found themselves trapped in a burning apartment building in Denmark.

via Jydske Vestkysten

Although its original Reddit post doesn't offer us much information, this article from the Denmark publication Jydske Vestkysten explains that a stove caught fire in one of the building's apartment units.

While two men inside that apartment were able to get out, multiple cats became trapped by the smoke. Thankfully, firefighters were quick to come to those poor cats' rescue!

The specific fireman responsible for rescuing this adorable kitty has been identified as Per Heesch.

via Jydske Vestkysten

According to this article, whether a fireman will go into a burning building to rescue an animal all comes down to making a judgement call.

If conditions are favorable enough, they'll go in and rescue those who have become trapped inside. But it's certainly not protocol for a fireman to save an animal if he can't guarantee his own safety first.

Thankfully for this sweet kitty, its rescuer was able to run into the building and rescue it and several other cats. Although we don't have any photos of those other felines, I'm sure they were all equally as grateful to have been saved from what would have surely been a tragic fate.

h/t: Jydske Vestkysten