Félix had been the García family’s cat in Catia La Mar, Venezuela, for four years when the June 24, 2026 earthquake caused two blocks of their building to collapse.
His owner, Francis García, lost her father and another of her cats, Luca, that day. Félix was presumed dead beneath the rubble until, four days later, someone detected that he was still alive. It took them a full 37 days to get him out of there: malnourished, dehydrated, his body covered in scratches and in pain that veterinarians Sebastián Ures and Ludeimar Rosendo urgently treated at a McDonald’s in Caraballeda.
His story traveled the world as a symbol of hope amid the tragedy. Veterinarian Dianny D’Amelio cared for him week after week until Félix achieved what seemed impossible: being with Francis again. He died on August 15, 2026, from respiratory arrest, a consequence of the toll those 37 days underground had taken. He was able to say goodbye in the arms of the person who never stopped looking for him.
