A two-week-old kitten has become an unlikely mascot for RiverReach Construction in Ohio after being rescued from one of their excavators. The story gained widespread attention through a series of Instagram videos that have garnered over 11 million combined views.
The kitten was discovered in July when operating supervisor Chase Guello heard crying coming from the company's Komatsu excavator before heading out to a job. Upon investigation, Guello found the feline trapped inside the machine's engine compartment. After removing skid plates, the tiny orange cat, initially no bigger than a fist, fell to the ground.
"Rescue mission for the day," Guello stated in a video documenting the discovery. "Normally, it's a piece of equipment. Right now, it's this little guy. There's a cat."
Unable to locate the kitten's mother or any other signs of a litter, Guello and his colleagues decided to take the kitten in. She was temporarily fostered by a friend of Guello's mother who works at a pet rescue. After a few weeks, the kitten was given to the company's shop mechanic, who has experience caring for animals.
The construction company engaged its followers by holding a poll to name the kitten. The winning name, chosen from submissions, was "Komatsu," after the brand of the excavator where she was found, though she is affectionately called "Sue" for short.
The company Komatsu itself sent merchandise for the new recruit, including a miniature safety vest and a small hard hat with holes for her ears. These accessories were featured in videos shared by the construction company, showcasing Sue's integration into the team.
"I think it's such a feel-good story that, you know, traditionally, like blue collar — we're rough around the edges, we don't have feelings," Guello told Fox8. "But we still care for such a little kitten."
The plan is for Sue to eventually become a permanent shop cat, transitioning between the company's workspace and her caretaker's home until she is old enough to reside full-time at the shop.