A Philadelphia contractor is shocked after hearing faint meows coming from inside a wall during a job.

Cats often find their way into the most unexpected places, and then they don’t know how to get back out.

That’s exactly what happened when 16 cats surprised a contractor in Philadelphia who was working on an empty house. Curious how it happened? Let’s look at it.

What started as a normal Sunday workday for the contractor quickly turned into a big rescue effort.

While he was working, he began to hear soft cat cries coming from inside the wall. At first, he thought the sounds were just coming from cats outside.

But the cries got louder, and then he realized there was actually a cat stuck inside the wall.

He told the homeowners about it, and they opened up the wall. What they found left them shocked. It wasn’t just one cat. There were nine adult cats and seven kittens trapped inside.

No one knows how the cats and kittens got stuck inside the wall, but what matters most is that the contractor found them in time.

It took him about eight long hours to rescue all the cats and kittens, but he was able to get every single one out safely.

After saving the 16 cats, he contacted The Animal Care & Control Team of Philadelphia, and they came right away to help.

Many of the rescued cats and kittens were in very bad condition, which shows just how important the contractor’s help was.

Sadly, even with all the care, one kitten died shortly after being rescued.

The other cats and kittens were taken to a shelter, where they got proper care and time to rest and recover.

The rescue team is hopeful about the future of these cats. They plan to help them get used to people and then find them caring forever homes.

Have you ever taken part in a rescue like this? Share your story in the comments.