A kitten plucked from the ashes of the wildfire near Mountain Home won the hearts of Treasure Valley residents Tuesday.

Some who saw a photo of the kitten by Statesman photographer Chris Butler online Tuesday called the Mountain Home Animal Shelter to see if they could adopt the kitten, said Danniele Rhatigan, shelter supervisor.

“We’re hoping there’s an owner out there,” said Rhatigan, explaining that the shelter’s policy is to hold strays for 10 days before putting them up for adoption.

She said the shelter has 11 other dogs and 15 cats waiting for homes.

The 8-week-old kitten’s eyes and whiskers appeared singed by flames; his paws were burned, too.

“The vet listened to his lungs — they don’t sound too bad,” Rhatigan said. “The eyes, it’s hard to tell. He may have had an eye infection, or it could have been from the fire.”

The kitten will likely live, according to the veterinarian who examined it.

The couple who found the kitten and turned it over to firefighters also found another kitten, which was in much worse shape, having suffered burns on its face and lost all its hair.

“He’s having a hard time breathing,” Rhatigan said.

The shelter also hopes to help one of the fire’s victims reunite with their missing cat. They are looking for an adult gray, neutered male who went missing on Contrail Avenue. If you’ve seen the cat, call (208) 587-2111.

Katy Moeller: 377-6413