We love hearing stories of police officers saving animals in need, but some really go above and beyond. Like one highway patrol officer who rescued a scared kitten from the highway — and later returned to pay a very special visit…

Last month, California Highway Patrol Officer Ryan Moore responded to a call from a motorist who “saw a scared kitten” on the highway in Monterey County, according to a Facebook post from SPCA Monterey County.

The kitten was scared and skittish, and in danger of running into busy traffic. “At first I stopped on the left hand side but when I went to grab the kitten, she ran across the lanes,” Officer Moore recalled. “I immediately thought: oh gosh, please don’t get hit!”

With the cat’s life in danger, Moore decided to stop traffic on the highway while he made the rescue. The officer tried to catch the kitten again, but she jumped into the wheel well of a Prius and crawled into the fuel tank.

SPCA Humane Investigations Supervisor Jacob Duarte arrived on the scene to help, and after making sure the cat wouldn’t be harmed by a running engine, they slowly moved the car to a parking lot.

After locating the kitten with a camera on a wire, Duarte removed some car parts and was able to finally free her.

“At first I had a moment of ‘why did this cat pick my car of all cars’,” said Tom Greeley, the Prius’ owner who was two hours late to work due to the rescue. “But it was a really heartwarming reinforcement of the good in society. The CHP officers were so great, Jacob was amazing, and together we made a difference and saved this little kitten.”

“I couldn’t just leave this little kitten out on the highway,” said Officer Moore. “I needed to try to do everything I could to help her. I’m so glad that Jacob was able to get her out.”