Cat’s persistence saves family
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NEW CASTLE, IND. — A cat helped spare a family from death by carbon monoxide poisoning by jumping on the bed and meowing wildly as fumes filled the home, the owners said.
Eric and Cathy Keesling told reporters that their 14-year-old cat, Winnie, played a crucial role in saving their lives March 24 after a gasoline-powered water pump in their basement caused the odorless but deadly gas to build up.
About 1 a.m., Winnie began nudging Cathy Keesling’s ear and meowing loudly. “It was a crazy meow, almost like she was screaming,” said Keesling.
Winnie’s caterwauling and jumping persisted until Keesling finally climbed out of bed -- and realized she was nauseous and dizzy and couldn’t awaken her husband.
Paramedics found the couple’s 14-year-old son, Michael, unconscious on the floor near his bedroom. The Keeslings were taken from the home in oxygen masks and treated for carbon monoxide poisoning; they soon recovered. The cat was unhurt.
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