A white cat named Fluffy was accidentally sealed inside a bathtub during renovation work at his owners' home in Needham, Massachusetts, before being rescued after 30 hours. The incident occurred last week at the $2.9 million mansion owned by Melissa and Ed Kirby.
Melissa Kirby said she initially feared Fluffy had escaped the house when he disappeared. The couple printed missing posters and hired a pet retrieval specialist. Their search efforts proved unsuccessful until they heard faint meowing coming from an upstairs bathroom.
"I thought at that point I was hallucinating," Melissa said. She discovered the cat had been hiding in a small hole beneath the newly installed bathtub. A plumber, unaware of Fluffy's presence, had completed the installation, trapping the cat.
The Kirbys contacted the plumber, who returned to the home approximately 45 minutes later and assisted in freeing Fluffy. The cat reportedly emerged unharmed.
Following the ordeal, the Kirbys attached an Apple AirTag to Fluffy to help track his movements. This incident has prompted other pet owners to share similar experiences on social media, where contractors have inadvertently trapped pets in walls or ceilings during construction or repair work.