Against All Odds: Lost Cats Rescued After Texas Floods Reunite with Families

Unthinkable Loss—and a Flicker of Hope

When deadly flash floods swept through the Texas Hill Country on July 4, the destruction was overwhelming. In the small town of Ingram, Cindy McCarthy lost everything—her home was destroyed, and her beloved cats, Rambo and Mo, vanished in the chaos.

Two days after the storm, Cindy received what she thought was confirmation of the worst: a cat matching Rambo’s description had been found dead.

But fate had other plans.

With the help of a volunteer from Austin Pets Alive!, a live trap was set beneath the wreckage of Cindy’s home. Days later, just when hope was all but gone, a black-and-white cat appeared in the cage.

“She was pulling a cage out with a cat in it, and I was like, ‘Oh my god? There’s Rambo!’” Cindy recalled.

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A Reunion That Defied the Odds

Rambo had spent over a week surviving in flood-ravaged debris. Exhausted but alive, he was brought to Kerrville Pets Alive! for a medical check and, at last, returned to Cindy’s arms. “He looked so happy to be clean and inside again,” she said.

Just days later, his brother Mo was also found and rescued.

Together, the two black-and-white siblings—once feared lost forever—were safe again.

Saving More Than Just Pets

Austin Pets Alive! and Kerrville Pets Alive! have led an extraordinary flood response effort since early July. Working side by side with over 1,000 volunteers, the organizations have already rescued more than 400 animals, including cats, dogs, and other lost pets across Central Texas.

Their mission: not just to save animals, but to reunite them with the people who love them.

The organizations announced that along with Rambo and Mo, three other cats from Cindy’s community were rescued and are also being reunited with their families on July 11.

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The Human-Animal Bond in Crisis

These rescues are more than happy endings—they’re lifelines.

For pet parents like Cindy, the return of a beloved cat after tragedy brings not just joy, but strength to rebuild. “Losing my home was heartbreaking, but finding Rambo gave me something to hold on to,” she said.

In disaster, our pets remind us that love survives—even when everything else is washed away.