Picture this: an ordinary Tuesday, a construction site in Ohio, and suddenly, a tiny kitten drops into an excavator. Not exactly standard operating procedure for River Reach Construction. But for supervisor Chase Guello, it quickly became an impromptu rescue mission.
The little furball was crying for help, wedged inside the heavy machinery. Guello, clearly not one to leave a cat in a bind (or an excavator), grabbed a drill and removed the skid plate. Out popped the kitten, making what Instagram later declared a "superhero landing." Naturally. They named her Sue, a nod to Komatsu, the brand of the equipment that nearly became her very expensive, very loud tomb.
From Rescue to River Reach Regular
After a thorough (and fruitless) search for Sue's mom or siblings, Guello knew the tiny survivor needed a home. Luckily, his mom's friend worked at an animal rescue and had a knack for fostering kittens. The plan was set: Sue would get a few weeks of R&R, then move in with Jared, the company's shop mechanic, who apparently has a soft spot for farm animals and, now, construction site kittens.
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Start Your News DetoxThe initial idea was for Sue to split her time between Jared's place and the shop, eventually becoming a full-time shop cat. Guello kept the internet updated, confirming Sue was healthy, happy, and settling into her new life of industrial-strength cuddles.
Then came the inevitable. On July 30th, River Reach posted photos of Sue rocking a custom-sized hard hat and safety vest. Yes, Komatsu itself made the tiny gear. Because apparently, that's where we are now: heavy equipment manufacturers designing feline PPE.
"We think Sue is ready for the job site!" the company declared on Instagram, thanking Komatsu North America and the internet at large for the outpouring of affection. River Reach Construction, for those wondering, is an environmental restoration company that's been doing important work with rivers, streams, and wetlands since 1992. But, as Guello wryly noted, it took a kitten to get them some serious viral attention.
"I'm far from a celebrity," Guello said in an Instagram Live, "Just happened to rescue a little kitty on a construction site, is all." He's happy for the exposure, especially if it means more people learn about their environmental efforts. Meanwhile, Sue is growing fast. So fast, in fact, that Komatsu is already sending a bigger hat and vest. Because a growing coworker needs growing gear, obviously. We'll take it.
