2 Missing Cats Found 5 Days After East Village Explosion

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- There was a bright spot this week during the search in the debris and evacuated apartments of the East Village explosion.

As CBS2's Alice Gainer reported Wednesday, many people have reported pets missing following the explosion. On Tuesday, two cats were found hiding in one apartment.

When the explosion happened on Second Avenue on Thursday of last week, Kathleen Blomberg was asleep in her apartment in a neighboring evacuated building. She woke her sleeping roommate, and they ran out.

"I thought I would have an opportunity to go back upstairs to get the cats, but as soon as we came down, they started sealing off the building," Blomberg said.

In the days since, she had been desperately searching for her two cats she left behind, putting up fliers and posting on social media. And on Tuesday night, she finally got some good news.

"When I got the call, I just started screaming and crying and jumping up and down," she said.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals found the cats.

"Hiding under someone's bed, and they'd been there since Thursday," said Allison Cardona of the ASCPA. "It was Sebastian and Kitty Cordelia."

The ASPCA also captured the tearful reunion on camera. CBS2 could not capture video of the cats Wednesday, because Blomberg said they are traumatized.

"I have no words, because, I mean, they're my children," she said. "They're not just cats."

The ASPCA was still working Wednesday to try to locate other missing pets.

"We're continuing to search the building," Cardona said, "We're putting down food and setting down traps."

Stuart Lipsky and his family made it out with one cat, but left a kitten behind. They were able to go back inside on Wednesday for the first time, but the apartment was destroyed and there was no sign of the cat.

"When this happened, she was airborne," Lipsky said. "Now the windows are open. I don't know where she is; she could be in the building."

• Ryce is a Siamese mix and looks like a Lynxpoint Siamese. She is a light, creamy color with a tabby pattern on her face and legs, light brown ears, and a pink nose with an outline. She is 11 months old and about 9 pounds. Anyone who sees her is asked to call Kayoko at (646) 266-1063, or Stu at (917) 386-4410, or email, kayokomaru1@ol.com. She may also be brought to the Whiskers Pet Store, or picked up by Animal Care and Control.

Fliers have also been posted for several other documented missing pets.

• Leather-Face is a gray, tan and brown striped tabby with blue eyes. He is around 4 years old. Anyone who sees him is asked to call Georgia and Donald at (917) 242-7096, bring him to the Whiskers Pet Store at 235 E. 9th St. between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., or call Animal Care and Control to pick him up.

• Lulu is a 7-pound female tortoiseshell with a split blond and black face. Laszlo is a 14-pound male brown, tan and gray tabby. Anyone who sees them is asked to call Yvonne at (121) 777-3492, bring them to the Whiskers Pet Store, or call Animal Care and Control.

• Anyone who has seen Sago is asked to call (212) 982-4589, or (212) 979-1799.

Also missing is a pit bull named Pepper. The dog's photo and further information were not immediately available.

The ASPCA said it is hard to tell how many pets were still missing Tuesday, but they did say cats like to hide. Thus, it may take some time for more of them to come out of wherever they could be hiding.