Ellen DeGeneres rescues dying kitten

By Alexandra Heilbron on July 14, 2011 | 39 Comments


Ellen DeGeneres spotted a severely dehydrated, flea-ridden kitten while shopping at a furniture store in Los Angeles. When she asked the store’s proprietor about the kitten, he said she came from a litter of three abandoned kittens, adding that her two siblings had already died. Ellen immediately offered to take the six-week-old cat, and drove her straight to a veterinarian. The vet gave the kitten fluids and prescribed antibiotics, then Ellen, who has two dogs and three cats, took her home to nurse her back to health. She’s named the little one Ridiculous because she’s so ridiculously cute. DeGeneres has asked The Gentle Barn animal sanctuary in Santa Clarita, California, to help find Ridiculous a home and posted a photo of the kitten, looking much healthier and happier, on The Gentle Barn’s Facebook and Twitter pages.



Comments & Discussion

  1. Angela • July 14, 2011 @ 12:10 AM

    Bless her. I wish more people would step up when they see someone in need, whether animal or human.

  2. Kags • July 14, 2011 @ 6:37 AM

    That’s such a cute cat, im glad she cares enough to take strays unlike some people

  3. Victor • July 14, 2011 @ 9:30 AM

    I don’t think that cat is “ridiculously cute” BUT I am glad that there’s someone who’s kind enough to help out stray animals and cares enough to try and do something about it.

  4. Bev • July 14, 2011 @ 10:19 AM

    What an angel. I’m so glad that Ellen stepped in to help the little creature. What was in that proprietor’s head that he couldn’t have done that? Hope she didn’t buy from him. I think the kitty is gorgeous.

  5. Helen • July 14, 2011 @ 11:15 AM

    I agree with you guys – what a sweet thing to do!

  6. Carey • July 14, 2011 @ 12:10 PM

    I am confused, so the store owner stood by and watched the other two kittens die ? who does that? how does he sleep at night ?
    Way to go Ellen !!
    All living animals deserve our respect and our protection !

  7. Lynn • July 14, 2011 @ 12:10 PM

    Ellen truly has a huge heart and a gift to be able to take in and take care of a stray kitten. It brought a tear to my eye, what a wonderful person she is.

  8. cookie • July 14, 2011 @ 12:10 PM

    I also believe the proprietor should have done something and not just let the other siblings pass away like they were nothing. How cruel is this person? All they had to do was phone a local cat rescue organization to come and get the kittens. Hopefully, Ellen took a pass on buying from the clueless owner of the furniture store.

    From watching your show, you seem like a nice person. Now, from your actions, I know you are.

  9. Kristy • July 14, 2011 @ 12:22 PM

    It’s little miracles like these that keep my faith in humanity. People should see her as a role model.

  10. Sheryl • July 14, 2011 @ 12:42 PM

    Ellen,
    You are amazing! Good for you to care!

  11. tenofclubs • July 14, 2011 @ 1:00 PM

    Ellen is truly the most kindhearted person. She loves animals and this proves just how much.

  12. Germain • July 14, 2011 @ 1:40 PM

    So she saved a freakin cat, what’s the big deal?

  13. Sharon • July 14, 2011 @ 1:54 PM

    The store owner should never have allowed the other two kittens to die. Ellen is my hero – she’s a devoted animal lover, vegan, is an extremely generous person, and if you watch her show, you’ll see how she brings laughter and joy to people’s lives. That is my favourite kind of cat, a tortie – I think it’s gorgeous.

  14. Maureen • July 14, 2011 @ 1:58 PM

    First of all, good on Ellen, I hope she lets everyone one know who the wretched store owner is and he loses business as a result of his cold hearted treatment of the kittens. Secondly, Germain, you are a jerk, hope nobody saves you if you ever need to be saved!

  15. Robin • July 14, 2011 @ 2:09 PM

    Maybe Germain is just having a bad day –

    Ellen would save her is she needed saving…Ellen already showed you, just because something/someone is ratty and infected, doesn’t mean you leave them to die.

  16. Susan Fadden • July 14, 2011 @ 2:12 PM

    I volunteer at two humane societies and see many cats and some that I’d love to take home. Thank you Ellen for having such a kind heart and caring for so many people and animals, it makes me and others feel more at ease.

  17. Tayderhead • July 14, 2011 @ 2:17 PM

    People rescue animals all the time but no mention is made of it because they’re not famous. I think it’s a wonderful thing she did for this cat, very kind and generous, especially to spend her own money on veterinary care for its recovery and then keep it in her home instead of just dumping it off into someone else’s lap…..humane society or other rescue organization. However, I wonder if she’s given thought to what she may have now exposed her own cats to by allowing it to mingle and eat out of their dishes. I’ve been a Himalayan cat breeder for many years and no stray cat should be brought in without first spending a time in quarantine and undergoing some blood work to make sure it isn’t a carrier of several fatal diseases that travel rampant among stray and homeless cats. I’ve rescued cats before too, but have then placed them in a quarantined area while finding new homes for them.
    I truly hope Ellen won’t have to pay a sad price with her own cats for her kind deed. And I too think this furniture store owner should be dropped out somewhere in a desolate land and left to starve with no shelter.

  18. Germain • July 14, 2011 @ 2:33 PM

    If I ever need saving, I wouldn’t count on that ugly twit to save me. She’s unfunny and sold out the fact that she’s guay to get ratings.

    She took a cat home and had her maid feed her and now giving it up, ohhhhh wow, she should get humanitarian award for sure.

    It’s all BS. The way she volunteers at a women’s shelter, I’ll applaude her.

  19. L1feless • July 14, 2011 @ 2:40 PM

    Here’s hoping she didn’t try and teach the damn thing how to dance.

  20. Jax • July 14, 2011 @ 3:07 PM

    Germain is a bag! A useless bag! And Lifeless, I know you’re trying to be funny, but this situation has nothing to do with comedy. Get a life! Hey, that’s a good one!

  21. crljones • July 14, 2011 @ 3:07 PM

    There’s a million more where that came from.

  22. Ash • July 14, 2011 @ 3:41 PM

    That is such a sweet nice thing to do, good on you Ellen!

  23. Zena • July 14, 2011 @ 4:51 PM

    Hi Ellen,

    I applaud you for rescuing a helpless animal. Wish that there was more people out there that cared for others besides themselves. I surely would have done the same thing that you had done. I feel what the store keeper had done was wrong. I hope that when he needs the help, he will get ignored and pushed aside.

    Zena

  24. C-Dub • July 14, 2011 @ 4:54 PM

    EVERY animal should be taken care of PERIOD. We help homesless people, we should certainly give a damn cat some water!!!
    I remember when I was younger I was going to the store with my newspaper delivery money and a stray cat was moaning, I went to buy gum chips and pop but instead of bought cat food and gave it to the cat. I felt great about that.
    No awards required cause I never called a newspaper or yelled out hey everyone see what I just did..but the action is what makes you feel good.

  25. Germain • July 14, 2011 @ 5:24 PM

    Ellen is a freak and all people that put her on a pedestal need to find better role models. She’s trash.

  26. Cheryl • July 14, 2011 @ 5:34 PM

    First don’t feed the trolls. Secondly good on Ellen for rescuing the kitten. Not sure what was up with the furniture store owner not doing it himself.

  27. June • July 14, 2011 @ 5:58 PM

    Good for Ellen. I have four cats and all are rescues.
    Some folks seem to think that if they dump out their unwanted cats in a small village someone will take them in. Guess they are right. All four of my boys are now fixed so they cannot go out and make more unwanted babies.

  28. Mary Ann • July 14, 2011 @ 5:59 PM

    This is truly and Ellen thing to do:) She has such a soft heart – and animals mean so much to her.
    I wish more people would be so ‘soft’ towards animals and their fellow human beings.

  29. Paige • July 14, 2011 @ 9:52 PM

    I love Ellen, and I’m glad she did this. She has such a big heart and loves animals, and she especially loves helping animals. I think people can look up to her as a role model.

  30. margaret • July 14, 2011 @ 11:37 PM

    i think it is great when anyone does something for a animal in distress,i do think it would have been nice to know the name of the store brcause anyone whome couldwatch alitter of kittens die and do nothing are garbage and i trully hope carma catches up with them .as for all the other stupid comments grow up

  31. Karyn • July 14, 2011 @ 11:40 PM

    Clearly an animal lover with a HUGE soft spot for pets in distress, Truly a Great Gal!!

  32. ginette huppe • July 15, 2011 @ 12:40 AM

    Hi ellen,ginette from vancouver,b.c. canada.I’m glad you rescued that kitten.I have cats myself,and one was put down on account of a tumor,she was thelve years old,her name was Suzie,I had her since she was about six weeks old.One of my cats I rescued,he was left behind when owners moved out,no food,no water,no nothing.Now he is well with us,we call him Tiger.

  33. Sacailin • July 15, 2011 @ 12:02 PM

    Kudos to Ellen!! I think she would have done this even if she was not famous!! She is a good hearted and sensitive person!!!

  34. Tammy • July 15, 2011 @ 5:12 PM

    Kudos to Ellen! I think she is fantastic but I wonder how she defends representing Cover Girl. Not exactly a Vegan ,cruelty free cosmetic company. Just curious….

  35. Kat • July 17, 2011 @ 2:01 PM

    Ellen thanks for taking the kitten in. I don’t think Germaine feels good about her world so don’t take her comments seriously. You seem to help everyone in our world. I wish I could.

  36. Linda • July 17, 2011 @ 2:06 PM

    Hopefully Germaine will find himself homeless, flea bitten and starving living under a bridge like a troll.. and everyone will look right through him like he doesn’t exist. People like him make me sick. Way to go Ellen…. you are a kind human being.

  37. Reva • July 17, 2011 @ 4:45 PM

    Germaine, despite your words, Ellen would wish you well. I hope life gets better for you. As for Ellen, every good wish to you. Thank you for using your energy to fill people’s buckets. Inspiring!

  38. Germain • July 18, 2011 @ 2:02 PM

    Life is great for me, I don’t like Ellen, can I have an opinion or does the world revolves around you people? BTW I’m not a girl. I don’t think this is that big a deal and I think Ellen is not funny and will use any situation to get people to talk about her. I’m entitled to my opinion, if that makes me a bad person then that’s OK. I find people that put these celebrities on pedestals pathetic.

  39. kim • November 4, 2014 @ 5:04 PM

    Thank you, you are amazingly generous. I have been rescuing cats myself for years, now I am terminally ill, I am trying to find someone that will care for these guys when I’m no longerable. I know it will happen eventually. Thank you Ellen.


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