To prevent the kittens from drowning, rescuers laid down sand bags and a plastic tarp to stop the drain from filling up.
College students from Connecticut have been hailed as heroes after they rescued four kittens that were stuck in a drainpipe.
Read: High School Football Players Rescue Tiny Cat From Storm Drain, Hours Before Big Game
"I just saw their eyes," said Kelly Cates, a student at Quinnipiac University, "they were maybe 20 feet back in the pipe."
Cates was one of several students who noticed the four kittens trapped late Monday night. According to WFSB, Cates jumped in the drain immediately, armed with the flashlight on her phone, and attempted to free the poor felines.
When she was not successful, students were able to flag down campus groundskeepers, public safety officers, and local animal control to intervene.
Rescuers were also met with an additional challenge: It was storming.
To prevent the kittens from drowning, rescuers laid down sand bags and a plastic tarp to stop the drain from filling up, a press statement reported.
Volunteers continued their efforts until 12 hours later, when they were finally able to pull the kittens to safety.
"I love cats," Cates said. "I wanted to do anything I could to get them out."
"We are happy to report all four kittens are now safe, dry and fed," Quinnipiac University wrote in a statement on Facebook.
Read: Two Doberman Pinschers Rescued After They Somehow Became Lodged in a Storm Drain
All four kittens were turned in to a nearby rescue, where they were given medical attention, spayed and neutered. They will be available for adoption in a few weeks.
According to WFSB, the mother cat is still at the bottom of the storm drain. Officials believe she is not trapped and can come and go as she pleases.
Watch: Dedicated Rescue Crew Spends 33 Hours Rescuing Kitten Trapped in Storm Drain
