View photos of Mimi's dramatic attic rescue. 

When Sylvia Joseph returned to her rental house a month after Hurricane Katrina devastated the city of New Orleans, she found that floodwaters had destroyed everything. Making matters worse, there was no sign of her beloved cat, Mimi.

Sylvia was philosophical about her possessions. They can be replaced as she begins a new life in Atlanta. But the lovable Mimi – a sweet, friendly black cat – was irreplaceable.

Sylvia’s heart was heavy when she and her boyfriend, Deville Murphy, left the house Friday evening.

“Then we heard a cat cry and we couldn’t figure out where it was coming from,” she recalls. “Some National Guardsmen shined their light up there (to an attic air vent) and saw her eyes.”

Sylvia knew the cat stuck in the attic was Mimi, but had no idea how to get her out, since she was unaware of any access to the attic area of the one-story house. A search revealed that the hurricane had ripped a small hole in the laundry room ceiling, perhaps providing Mimi a means of getting into the rafters. Another possibility was a small hole in the roof. Either way, the ingenuous cat had found a safe, dry place to ride out the storm and subsequent flooding.

Unfortunately, the cat seemed unable to find her way back downstairs, and was slowly starving.

On Saturday, Sylvia and Deville got in their car to seek help. They soon flagged down a van carrying two Alley Cat Allies rescuers.

The duo performed its own inspection, combing the interior and climbing onto the roof. They too failed to find access to the attic.

As the 18-month-old Mimi chirped at her “Mommy,” Deville hit upon a plan. He would stand on the railing of the front porch, while ACA volunteer Karlyn Sturmer climbed atop his shoulders and attempted to pry open the attic vent.

Karlyn, a fearless cat rescuer from Connecticut, never hesitated. She climbed on Deville’s broad shoulders without hesitation. Perched precariously 15 feet above the ground, she began ripping away at the vent.

Suddenly the corner of the vent gave way, and a very skinny Mimi poked her head out. She was soon in Karlyn’s arms, and then in the hands of an overwhelmed Sylvia.

The tears flowed freely as Sylvia cooed to her “sweet baby.” For her part, a very thin and dehydrated Mimi was happy to see both Sylvia and a bowl of wet cat food that Alley Cat Allies had on hand.

After Sylvia and Mimi spent some time together, Sylvia was convinced to part with her “baby” one more time. Mimi would be transported to the ACA base camp in Bogalusa to receive fluids and a good going-over from volunteer veterinarian Dr. Kate Howard, while Sylvia and Deville returned to Atlanta.

“Well, Mimi baby, Mommy has to leave you for a little while, but this time it’s not going to be forever,” Sylvia told Mimi. In fact, the separation would be a short one. Mimi got a quick thumbs-up from the veterinarian, and in a matter of days was being taken to Atlanta by another ACA volunteer.

“It’s awesome,” Sylvia said. “I’m just so excited, grateful and thankful to Alley Cat Allies. Now I can go back to Atlanta and sleep at night.”

And for plucky Mimi? She not only got her people back, she got a new home, plenty to eat – and a second chance at life.

View photos of Mimi's dramatic attic rescue by clicking here.

Volunteers and support for Alley Cat Allies rescue work in Louisiana are still needed.