When Brandon Key and Jason Frost set out for a peaceful day of fishing on Alabama’s Black Warrior River, they were expecting quiet waters and maybe a few good catches – but fate had something entirely different in store.
As they cast their lines and soaked in the calm, a strange movement in the distance caught their attention. Something small was paddling through the water, heading straight for their boat. At first, they thought their eyes were playing tricks on them -until Brandon looked closer and realized what it was.
It wasn’t a fish or a floating branch. It was a kitten.
Moments later, another tiny figure appeared, following close behind. Two kittens were swimming desperately across the river, their little paws slicing through the current as if their lives depended on it – and, in truth, they did.
Brandon captured the moment on video, narrating his disbelief: “We’re out here on the Warrior River, and y’all are not gonna believe what’s swimming toward our boat. A kitten.”
Soaked to the bone and trembling, the ginger kittens somehow reached the fishermen’s boat. The friends gently scooped them up, wrapping them in towels and trying to keep them warm. Despite their ordeal, the kittens seemed remarkably calm, even mewing softly as if they knew they were finally safe.
Jason suspected they had been abandoned along the riverbank – a heartbreaking thought, but one that made their determination to survive even more extraordinary. Against the odds, the two little cats had swum through dangerous waters, refusing to give up.
The rescue quickly went viral after Jason and Brandon posted the video online, drawing praise from viewers everywhere. Many were stunned at how such small kittens could swim that far and touched by the kindness of two fishermen who turned a day of angling into an unforgettable act of compassion.
After bringing the kittens ashore, the friends found them a loving home with a local family. The new owners fell in love instantly, giving the brave little pair a safe place to rest, play, and finally be cared for.
From near tragedy to a happy ending, their story has been called one of the sweetest “catfish” rescues ever. It’s a gentle reminder that sometimes, heroes appear when least expected – even on an ordinary fishing trip.
