A stray cat’s unexpected dash off with a fish turned out to be a life-saving warning for a family of five after a ferocious fire tore through Kampung Solok Wan Moh, razing four homes.
The incident occurred yesterday morning when the feline, a familiar presence in the neighbourhood, slipped into the house of security guard Muhammad Norsham Bibin, 31. Instead of its usual calm visits, the cat grabbed a fish from the dining table and bolted—behaviour that immediately caught the family’s attention.
Muhammad Norsham was at home with his wife, Widyawati Niban, 40, and their three children, all asleep at the time. He said the cat had never taken food during previous visits, making the sudden theft highly unusual.
Recalling the moment, he said he went outside to retrieve the fish, only to be met by a fiery glow and thick smoke billowing from a neighbouring house. Realising the danger, he rushed back inside and evacuated his wife and children before the fire could spread further.
The blaze escalated quickly, engulfing several houses in the area. Fire and Rescue Department personnel received an emergency call at 8.53am, deploying 19 firefighters from the Penggaram station. The fire was successfully brought under control by 9.20am, according to senior operations commander Norazizan Awang.
Although the family lost most of their belongings—including a Proton Iswara Aeroback and their children’s school items—no injuries were reported. For Muhammad Norsham, the loss was secondary to the safety of his loved ones, a reminder often echoed in fire-related incidents across residential areas.
He expressed deep gratitude for what he described as divine intervention, believing the cat’s actions were no coincidence. In the aftermath of the incident, the story has resonated widely, underscoring how instinct—sometimes from the most unexpected sources—can make the difference between disaster and survival.
