Five adorable kittens are lucky to be alive thanks to a good Samaritan who rescued them from flooding.

The kittens almost drowned in Clifton on Tuesday morning after heavy rain.

“It rained so hard it was literally flushing down [the good Samaritan’s] street. She doesn’t know where they came from. She saw little lumps in the water and said those were kittens,” says Emily Thomas, a certified veterinary tech with Veterinary Emergency Group in Clifton.

The kittens were cold but generally OK. Technicians warmed and dried them with hair dryers.

The kittens were named Tomato, Jalapeno, Cajun, Lettuce and Aioli. Four of the five are healthy and safe with “Smitten by Kittens” – a cat rescue in Morristown. The fifth kitten is still at the vet but is expected to be OK. All will be available for adoption.

The veterinarians say that this type of situation is unfortunately not uncommon. They say that while the kittens were strays, pet owners should be reminded to keep their pets in mind during all severe weather.

“If you know a storm is coming, make sure your pets’ microchip information is up to date,” says Thomas.

This is in case the pet and owner get separated during the storm. Pet owners are also reminded to pack a “go bag” for their pets, like they would the human members of their family. Pets should never be left outside in severe weather of any kind.

Anyone who wishes to adopt a kitten can find more information on the Smitten by Kittens website.