Westminster’s boiler-room cat rescue ends with new homes

demoduck.co.uk editorial team 2026-08-12 18:36 3 min read

A black mother cat lies protectively with her small kittens on a green mat.

A one-year-old mother cat kept her three kittens alive in a boiler room measured at 45°C after the family became trapped behind equipment in a Pimlico block of flats.

Residents heard persistent meowing from the boiler room and alerted Westminster City Council. Its animal warden located the cats deep behind the boilers, where the heat, dust and cramped space made reaching them difficult.

The mother, named Barbie, and her kittens were taken safely to Blue Cross Animal Hospital in Victoria, London. The rescue has since led to new homes for Barbie and one surviving kitten, Guiness.

Residents’ alert led rescuers behind the boilers

The kittens were believed to be about three weeks old when they were found. Westminster City Council said Barbie had sheltered them in the harsh conditions and kept them alive until help arrived.

Amanda Rumball, a London Welfare Officer at Blue Cross, said Barbie was initially nervous at the hospital and focused on her babies. Once she understood they were safe, she relaxed and showed herself to be a calm, attentive mother.

Westminster’s boiler-room cat rescue ends with new homes

Veterinary checks found Barbie was slightly underweight and covered in dust, but otherwise in good health. Her kittens were also assessed as being in excellent condition, underlining the care she had provided while they were hidden in the boiler room.

Blue Cross treatment revealed different outcomes for the kittens

Further veterinary assessment found that one kitten had a severe and complex congenital condition. The Blue Cross team made the decision to put him to sleep to prevent further suffering.

Another kitten, Malibu, has been diagnosed with a Grade 4 heart murmur. She is living in a Blue Cross foster home while she grows large enough for further heart scans, which will help determine treatment and when she may be ready for rehoming.

The case shows why the condition of rescued animals cannot always be judged by their appearance at the scene: although Barbie’s kittens had survived the heat, detailed examinations identified needs requiring different levels of care.

Barbie and Guiness have settled with new families

Blue Cross’s rehoming centre in Wherstead, Suffolk, has found homes for Barbie and Guiness. Malibu remains in the charity’s care until the next stage of her veterinary assessment.

Rumball said Barbie’s dedication was the reason her kittens arrived in such good condition. She also said the charity is seeing more vulnerable cats and kittens needing help as it responds to what it describes as a hidden pet welfare crisis.

Councillor Caroline Sargent, Westminster City Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Enforcement, praised the animal welfare team and said the rescue highlighted the need to recognise when animals may be in distress during hot weather. For Malibu, the next confirmed step is the heart scan needed before Blue Cross can consider her future treatment and eventual rehoming.

Source: Westminster City Council

Context & actions About this article

Source check Source trail

This report follows Westminster City Council’s account of the rescue and Blue Cross’s update on veterinary care and rehoming.

Checks

Confirmed the rescue location as a Pimlico residential block.
Checked the reported 45°C boiler-room conditions and resident alert.
Separated confirmed rehoming outcomes from Malibu’s ongoing veterinary assessment.
Included the congenital condition and heart-murmur findings as described by Blue Cross.

Westminster City Council Check related coverage