Lucky Kitty Plucked From Lake

L O N G  L A K E, Wash., May 29 -- Two young girls were learning how to jet-ski on Saturday when they noticed a boat throw something into the water nearby, then speed away.

"We thought it was a cup or some garbage, so we went to go pick it up," said 13-year-old Jennifer Scouton. "When we came closer, we thought it was a gutted fish so we got kinda interested in it. We got closer and thought it was a rat."

But it wasn't garbage, a gutted fish, or a rat.

It was a tiny kitten, just a few weeks old.

Meowing in the Water

"We could hear it crying and screaming when it was meowing so we knew it was a cat," she said. "Valerie over here jumped out and grabbed it."

"I wasn't really thinking of anything, except to get it out of the water," said 12-year-old Valerie Gilroy. "I'm just really glad that it's still alive."

Alive it was — and crying out in pain and confusion.

"They come back hollering with this kitten who's drenched and screaming," recalled Jennifer's mom, Laurie Scouton.

'Lucky Joe' Has Eight Lives Left

She wondered how anyone could toss a kitten into the water.

"I never thought anyone could do that because it is so cute," said the elder Scouton. "Why would you want to do that?"

The kitten is being brought back to health, feeding on a special formula. One of Jennifer's cousins is adopting the rescued kitty, which they've named "Lucky Joe."

Now that Lucky Joe has used up one life, his new family is hoping the next eight won't be as traumatic. ABCNEWS affiliate KXLY in Spokane contributed to this report.