A frightening bridge ordeal ended safely for one very lucky cat.
Authorities say the orange feline was rescued after allegedly being thrown from a moving vehicle as it traveled across a bridge connecting Maryland and Virginia.
The incident happened Sunday on the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, where a concerned witness reported seeing someone try to toss a cat from a moving car, according to the Prince George’s County Division of the Maryland-National Capital Park Police.
Officers quickly responded and were able to recover the frightened animal, who police said was not injured.
In video shared by the department, an officer can be heard gently encouraging the meowing cat as it hid behind a bridge railing. “Come on. I got you, baby. You can do it,” the officer said.
Images from the rescue showed the small cat perched on the Potomac River crossing, and later crying with its mouth open while being held safely in an officer’s arms.
“We commend the citizen for speaking up and our officers for taking immediate action to protect a defenseless animal,” the police department said in a statement.
The department added that animal cruelty cases are treated seriously and urged anyone who sees abuse or neglect to report it right away.
The cat is now “receiving the care it deserves,” cops said.
