Cat rescued from irrigation pipe in Indio

Imperial Irrigation District workers and community members are to thank for giving a cat one of its nine lives this weekend.

The Riverside County Animal Services said a 1-year-old black cat got stuck inside an irrigation pipe Friday along Jackson Street near the Shadow Hills area in Indio.

A woman walking her dog heard some loud meows and contacted the animal rescuers.

An officer tried to reach the cat, but it was too deep inside a pipe.

On Saturday, a team from Imperial Irrigation District helped with the rescue. It took some digging and heavy equipment to save the cat, but they finally did after several hours.

It’s not clear how the cat got stuck in the pipe, but it’s now at the Coachella Valley Animal Campus in Thousand Palms. It’s unknown if the cat is male or female.

Authorities said if the owner doesn’t come to the shelter to pick it up, the cat will be put up for adoption.

For more information, contact the Coachella Valley Animal Campus at 760-343-3644.