Caitlin Clark Rescued a Kitten From the River — What Was Around Its Neck Left Her Speechless
It was supposed to be just another morning jog for Caitlin Clark. The sky was still a sleepy gray as her sneakers crunched along the gravel path by the riverbank. The early autumn air clung to her skin, crisp and cool, and the world was mostly quiet—just the rhythm of her breath and the distant hum of the town slowly waking up. She ran this trail every morning, the river a faithful companion to her daily ritual, a brief escape from the pressures of basketball and the ever-watchful eyes of fans and media.
But this morning, something was different.
As Caitlin rounded a familiar bend, a faint, desperate cry pierced the silence. She stopped, pulled out her earbuds, and listened. There it was again—a high-pitched mewing, thin and weak, carried on the breeze from the water’s edge. Caitlin turned toward the river, scanning the grassy slope and muddy edges, her heart thumping with concern.
Her eyes caught a flicker of movement: a tiny, soaked kitten clinging to a piece of driftwood, its paws barely holding on, its eyes wide with terror. Caitlin didn’t hesitate. She kicked off her shoes, waded into the freezing river, and pushed through the current. The water bit at her legs, but she didn’t care. All that mattered was getting to that tiny creature before it slipped beneath the surface.
With trembling hands, Caitlin lifted the kitten from the driftwood, cradling its shivering body to her chest. Its fur was matted and cold, its cries now quiet, almost resigned. As Caitlin hurried back to shore, she noticed something odd around the kitten’s neck—a collar, clearly too tight, and attached to it, a small, rusted locket.
Caitlin wrapped the kitten in her jacket, holding it close as she hurried home. Curiosity mixed with confusion as she gently opened the locket. Inside was a faded photograph of a little girl—no more than five—smiling brightly with her arms wrapped around what looked like a tiny version of the very same kitten. On the back of the photo, in childish handwriting, were the words: “Take care of Lucky. Love, Maddie.”
Caitlin’s heart sank. Someone had loved this kitten once—deeply.
At her apartment, Caitlin dried the kitten with warm towels, fed it tiny spoonfuls of milk, and called the local vet. The little creature, whom she now called Lucky, was dehydrated and underweight, but the vet assured her that with care, it would survive.
As Lucky slowly recovered over the next few days, Caitlin couldn’t shake the mystery. Who was Maddie? How had Lucky ended up alone in the river, clutching to life and a memory?
She posted photos online, shared the story on community pages, and called nearby shelters. Most leads went cold. Some comments praised her for saving the kitten; others speculated about abandonment or tragedy. But one message stood out—a private note from an elderly woman named Grace.
Grace explained that Maddie had been her granddaughter. Five years ago, Maddie had been in a terrible car accident with her parents. Only she and the kitten survived. During her hospital stay, Maddie had begged her grandmother to take care of Lucky. But during a chaotic move and a series of miscommunications, Lucky had somehow slipped away. They’d searched for days, posted flyers, but as the years passed, they assumed the kitten was gone—lost to the wild or worse.
Caitlin’s eyes filled with tears as she read Grace’s words: “I thought I failed her. I thought I let her down.”
Caitlin arranged to meet Grace in person. She brought Lucky to the house, wrapped in a fresh blanket. Grace’s hands trembled as she reached out, her eyes brimming with hope and fear. The kitten looked up, blinked slowly, and let out the tiniest mew. In that moment, something unspoken passed between them—recognition, maybe even forgiveness. Grace kissed the top of Lucky’s head, her eyes glistening. “Maddie would be so happy,” she whispered.
Caitlin stayed for tea. They talked for hours, sharing stories about Maddie, about loss and healing, about the strange ways life brings things full circle. As the sun began to set, Caitlin stood to leave, but Grace reached for her hand.
“You didn’t just save a kitten,” she said softly. “You gave me a piece of my granddaughter back.”
Caitlin walked home that night with a warmth in her chest that no autumn chill could touch. In the days that followed, she kept in touch with Grace and often visited Lucky, who had begun to put on weight and play again. Grace even gave Caitlin the locket, saying it belonged with the person who brought Lucky home. Caitlin hung it in her apartment window, where it caught the light just right every morning.
Sometimes life offers no explanation for the paths we cross, the people we meet, or the hearts we help mend. But sometimes all it takes is one small act of compassion—a moment of listening to a cry in the silence—to change everything.
Caitlin had gone for a jog and come back with a story that would live in her heart forever. And as she watched Lucky curl up in the sunlight, she realized that even the smallest lives can lead us to the biggest revelations—not just about the world, but about ourselves.
Caitlin Clark reveals her unexpectedly funny childhood fear
Attending the LPGA Women’s Leadership Summit, Caitlin Clark humorously clarified her dislike for felines and shared her anxieties about playing golf, proving her relatable side beyond basketball. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)(Getty Images via AFP)
Caitlin Clark, the WNBA’s 2024 Rookie of the Year, while attending the Annika LPGA’s Women’s Leadership Summit, surprised fans by revealing a rather funny and unexpected fear. She confessed, “I really don’t like cats,” as reported by Sports Illustrated.
When asked if her dislike stemmed from an allergy, the Indiana Fever star responded, “No,” and explained, “There was this black cat on my street growing up, and it was so mean. I’m scarred. So, I’m really scared of cats.”
“So, I’m sorry if any of you have a cat, I just don’t. I like dogs a lot, but no cats,” she told Sports Illustrated.
Caitlin Clark explores her new ‘pro golfer’ status
Clark also shared some anxieties about her participation in the LPGA event. Although she’s a dominant figure on the basketball court, stepping onto the golf course had her feeling a bit out of her element. Before teeing off on Wednesday, November 13, she expressed, “I’m going to hit some good, I’m going to hit some bad.”
“Just going to try not to hit anyone standing outside of the ropes. But it’ll be fun.” (Per Yahoo! Sports).
“I’ve tried to take as much time as I can to practice, but there is only so much hope,” she joked. “You just cross your fingers, pray.”
Notably, just after Indiana’s playoff run, the newfound “pro golfer” had discussed her future plans: “No, I’ve practiced a little bit, and I just had the quote about becoming a professional golfer. Everybody thought I was serious. I was not serious,” she explained with a smile, as per Yahoo! Sports.
“I love it. I love being outside and making it competitive with my friends.”
