Austin police rescue eight kittens abandoned in a cage during freezing weather on Great Northern Boulevard

Emergency call leads to overnight animal rescue

Austin police officers rescued eight kittens after a 9-1-1 call reported animals left in freezing conditions in Central West Austin. Police said the kittens were discovered confined in a cage on a sidewalk along Great Northern Boulevard, with no shelter, food, or water available at the scene.

The department identified the first responder as Sgt. Ben Mewis and said officers assigned to the Baker 300s area responded to the call, secured the animals and moved them out of the cold. Police later transported the kittens to the Austin Animal Center for evaluation and care.

What happens after a kitten rescue

When kittens arrive at a municipal shelter, the immediate priorities typically include warming, hydration, a basic health assessment and screening for urgent issues common to young cats, such as hypothermia, dehydration and respiratory illness. The city’s animal services system also maintains intake pathways for animals considered at immediate risk, including those found in dangerous weather exposure.

Austin’s shelter system has faced sustained capacity strain in recent years, including periods when intake was limited to emergencies. Animal-welfare groups and the city have repeatedly urged residents to use reunification tools and short-term holding options when safe to do so, particularly for healthy found pets, to preserve shelter space for animals that are sick, injured or in danger.

Investigation focuses on potential neglect or abandonment

Police requested tips from the public to help determine who left the kittens in the cage and whether the circumstances meet the threshold for an animal-cruelty investigation. Texas law includes offenses related to animal abandonment and failure to provide necessary care, and investigators can consider factors such as access to adequate shelter, water and protection from hazardous conditions.

Cold-weather risks for small animals

Young kittens are especially vulnerable in cold snaps because they have limited ability to regulate body temperature and can decline rapidly without insulation, nutrition and dry shelter. Local animal-safety guidance emphasizes bringing animals indoors during severe weather and ensuring constant access to drinkable water and protection from wind and precipitation.

• If an animal appears sick, injured, or in immediate danger, residents can request assistance through the city’s service channels.

• If a found pet is healthy and can be safely contained, residents are encouraged to document the find, search for an owner and seek microchip scanning through available community resources.

Austin police said the kittens were found in a cage without shelter, food, or water and were taken to the city shelter for care.

The condition of the kittens following intake and any subsequent enforcement actions have not been publicly detailed. The police department said information from the community may help establish how the animals ended up at the location and whether a criminal violation occurred.