In mid-July of 2026, Chase Gallo, operations supervisor at RiverReach Construction, was inspecting a Komatsu excavator at a construction site in the Leavittsburg area of Ohio. A plaintive meowing came from under the machine — and so began the story of a tiny orange kitten who would later be named Sue.
The kitten was estimated to be only two weeks old and the size of a fist. Gallo disassembled heavy protective plates weighing about 45 kilograms, and the little one fell to the ground. A search for her mother and other kittens turned up nothing: Sue was alone. The company took her under its wing, and rescue videos garnered over 11 million views on Instagram.
Sue was named after the excavator brand — Komatsu, shortened to Sue. She spent her first weeks with a shelter volunteer, then moved into the home of company mechanic Jared, who grew up on a farm and has experience caring for animals. When the kitten grows up, she will ride to work with him and become a "shop cat" — the official mascot of the crew.
The story quickly caught the attention of the equipment manufacturer itself. Komatsu Corporation sent Sue a personal gift: a tiny yellow hard hat with holes for her ears and a miniature reflective vest — "the smallest in the world." Gallo filmed the unboxing, and footage of the kitten in full gear went viral.
Construction workers, who usually operate heavy machinery and are not accustomed to showing emotion, unexpectedly found themselves the heroes of a heartwarming story. "We're rough guys, but we still care about such a tiny creature," Gallo admitted in an interview. Sue has already befriended the team and even tries on the role of "OSHA inspector" in the comments from followers.
Today Sue lives in a caring family, wears her construction gear, and prepares for adult life on the site. Her story shows how a chance find on a construction site can turn into a symbol of kindness and remind us that even in the world of heavy machinery, there is room for little furry colleagues.
