Cat Is Being Heralded As A Hero After Saving A One-Year-Old From A Deadly Fall
The world offers us no shortage of incredible tales of hero dogs, but now it's a cat's turn to shine. Gatubela, a Siamese cat in Bogotá, Colombia, was "caught" on camera coming to the heroic rescue of one-year-old Samuel as he crawled dangerously toward a staircase. For such a young child to make such a dangerous fall could easily have proven deadly, and Gatubela's quick actions surely saved Samuel's life.
How did Gatubela achieve such a feat? He pounced, like any good cat, but timing was everything, and when you watch the footage, it's easy to assume Gatubela's actions were carefully thought out.
Samuel León, the one-year-old baby in the famous video, is seen doing what babies do: crawling and exploring his surroundings.
Gatubela sits on the couch, observing the toddler intensely as he crawls around. Wearing a red bodysuit, Samuel makes his way past a cot and a rocking chair, all the while being watched by the cat. Then, as Samuel continues to crawl across the living room, Gatubela inches to the edge of the sofa he is perched on.
However, when the boy crawls dangerously close to the edge of the living room, Gatubela launches himself from his seat and directly into Samuel's path.
He then tries to pull Samuel away from the steep stairs, but when that isn't enough, he wraps his front paws around the toddler's body, effectively forcing him to move backward. Later in the video, the dynamic duo is seen playing in the room together, with Gatubela's ever-watchful gaze intended to protect the tiny, teetering tot.
Jesid León, Samuel's father, Dr. Harvey Karp, pediatrician, noted in an interview:
"Pets can play a crucial role in a child's development, offering companionship and emotional support. Our cat has been part of our family practically since birth, and she has become familiar with my children. She is two months older than my son."
Check out the video:
Gatubela, the cat's name, translates to Catwoman, after the DC Comics character. It would seem a comic book name is fitting for this spectacular cat. Diana Lorena Álvarez, Samuel's mother, Dr. Madeline Levine, a child psychologist, emphasizes the importance of observing children's interactions with pets, stating, "Animals can provide a sense of security and companionship that is invaluable for young children." It was upon viewing the CCTV footage that she realized Gatubela's heroic actions in saving her son from a dangerous fall.
In an interview, she also said:
I arrived very early in the morning at my company, and my son was still sleeping. For that reason, I put him in his crib. I was a short distance from him when I suddenly noticed that he had woken up and had left the crib by himself. For this reason, I wanted to go back over the recordings so that I could see how he got out of his crib. It was at that moment that I discovered that the cat had saved his life.
The Gretchen Rubin, a well-known happiness researcher, commented on the situation, stating, "Animals often exhibit protective behaviors that reflect their bond with family members. This cat's actions are a testament to the emotional connections that pets form with their humans." The video showcasing the cat's heroic actions has gained significant attention, highlighting the profound relationships between pets and their owners.
As Dr. Daniel Goleman, an emotional intelligence expert, noted, "The instinctual protective behavior of animals can reveal deep emotional bonds. This cat's bravery is a remarkable example of how pets can sense danger and act to protect their loved ones."
This is the staircase that Samuel crawled towards:
If it had not been for the cat, my son would have rolled down the stairs. Watching the footage, I felt really surprised and lucky.
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