Tiny Cat Gets Their Head Stuck in a Huge Dumpster and Needs Heavy Machinery to Break Free

The kitten was administered a sedative during its rescue and is recovering at NOCO Humane

A kitten whose tiny head got stuck in a dumpster received broad support from the northern Colorado community in its effort to escape the smelly situation.

The little cat got caught in a large dumpster in Fort Collins, Colo., on Friday, Nov. 15, while trying to exit head-first through a tiny hole near the bottom of the receptacle. The small mistake required a big solution — heavy machinery.

According to CBS News, the Poudre Fire Authority (PFA) responded to the scene after receiving a call from a concerned citizen. After assessing the situation, the firefighters determined the only way to rescue the kitten was with power tools.

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"The strong material of the dumpster and tight fit required extremely precise use of powerful tools often used in vehicle extractions," the PFA wrote on Facebook on Monday.

Before cutting into the dumpster near the feline's head, the PFA called Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital to help care for the cat during the rescue. Dr. Amanda Cavanagh, head of the hospital's urgent care service, responded to the request. She arrived at the dumpster and administered a sedative to the cat ahead of the rescue so the kitten would stay relaxed while the PFA used their tools to free the animal.

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"The operation was successful, and this courageous kitty is now recovering in good hands with NOCO Humane," the Colorado State University facility wrote in a Facebook post on Sunday.

The PFA is keeping its paws crossed that a "lucky family" will soon step up to adopt the "cutie" cat from NOCO Humane.