The cat who hunted during World War II so his family wouldn't starve to death

With the arrival of World War II, food shortages in Leningrad were immediate, so some people turned to domestic animals to stay alive; however, one cat, known by the name of Vaska, became a symbol of resistance for his keepers.

Amidst the tragic moments, the feline took charge of providing food for his family, using his hunting skills and also using his instinct to detect nearby threats in order to alert his owners of attacks.

Decades later, this pet's story continues to impact visitors to Russian museums, where several descendants of the caretakers have lent their voices to tell how the cat risked his own life to prevent his loved ones from starving to death.

Despite its small size, the animal demonstrated that it doesn't need to have a dangerous appearance to be able to infiltrate the ruins of buildings and search for food scraps, rodents, or birds as a strategy against famine.

Part of the family's diet consisted of making improvised stews with the meat of the rats Vaska caught, since the feline rarely managed to ambush the birds.

According to stories displayed in Russian museums, the feline had an unerring ability to anticipate the bombs dropped by the Germans on Leningrad , long before the alarms sounded in the territory to warn the inhabitants.

When the pet began to meow with concern and ran around the house, its caretakers understood that it was time to hide in the shelter , so they stored water and food before protecting themselves so as not to go hungry.

Finally, when the war ended, the survivors of Leningrad had access to food, allowing them to resume part of their lives over the years. Furthermore, in gratitude for Vaska's work during the siege, the descendants of his relatives erected monuments to honor his memory.

Some museums in St. Petersburg say that the cat died five years later and was buried with honors by its keepers, who over time were also laid to rest in the same place, symbolizing the unity that characterized them during the tragedy.

The feline's story has become known in different parts of the world thanks to people who continue to speak out about its legacy, like Varya Malina, who discovered this pet's feat and shared it on the show '90 Day Fiancé.'

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