Cat-astrophe averted.
A scrappy and stinky kitten was rescued from a days-long stay in a Massapequa sewer just moments before a rainstorm threatened to wash the newborn away.
A heart-pounding video captured the moment one strong-nosed rescuer yanked little Norton out of the water-filled tunnel and pulled the screeching cat above ground.
The incredible mission kicked off on the rain-soaked Saturday evening when a neighbor who was out walking their dog heard cries coming from beneath a manhole on Harrison Street.
Neighbors said the kitten had been traveling the sewers for days, but none had caught sight of the animal.
Several others raced out of their houses with crowbars in hand to pry the sewer cap loose — making room for local animal rescuer John Debacker to crawl down below.
Debacker told The Post he knew he had to act quickly — the rain threatened to fill the already-muddy sewers quickly and potentially drown the tiny kitten.
Little Norton responded to recorded “meow” noises that Debacker blasted in the tunnels, leading the rescuer exactly to the watery spot the cat had holed itself up in.
The terrified kitten tried to evade Debacker and even tried to sprint past him and deeper into the tunnel, but the experienced rescuer grabbed the kitten.
“I got him!” Debacker can be heard saying in the video.
Norton screamed and was even biting Debacker as he was carried onto the street and placed the kitten into a carrier, which was shipped off to Second Chance Animal Rescue in Levittown and promptly given a bath.
The adventurous kitten will now have a second chance at life, and will be put up for adoption once he receives his vaccinations and is given a clean bill of health.
Debacker said the rescue has left Jim in the market for some new attire — he broke his glasses while wrangling the cat and his clothes were so filthy from the sewer that it wasn’t worth attempting to clean them.
It was well worth it, however.
“It’s the greatest feeling in the world,” John said about rescuing animals.
“I’m happy the cat is safe.”
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