Zelda found alive after Krokstadelva fire as 16 cats remain missing

Kenneth Ulsrud’s nine-year-old cat Zelda has been found alive three days after a major fire tore through a row of homes in Krokstadelva, outside Drammen.

Published by Dagbladet on Monday, the reunion came after a widely shared photograph showed a grey cat in the burned-out wreckage, prompting Ulsrud to identify the animal by its Russian-blue coat and distinctive markings.

Veterinary examination confirmed the cat’s identity via microchip. While Zelda is severely burned, dehydrated and in shock, her lungs are surprisingly clear and vital organs are functioning. She has begun to eat but not drink, and remains under observation at a relative’s home.

Sixteen cats still missing

Animal welfare group Dyrebeskyttelsen Norge reports that 16 cats are still unaccounted for following Friday’s blaze, which destroyed more than 100 homes and forced the evacuation of over 400 people. Fire crews, military and civil defence units battled the flames with six helicopters and over 100 personnel; one civilian and one civil defence volunteer were hospitalised for smoke inhalation, along with eight police officers who received medical checks.

Police say they have no reason to suspect arson and are appealing for public tips to assist the investigation.

Another resident, Marita Røine, was reunited with her cat Pusemus on Sunday after days of uncertainty. “The joy was overwhelming when I saw her again,” Røine said.