Couple Who Lost Home And Famous Cats In Fire Offer Safety Tips

FARMINGTON HILLS, MI – A young couple who lost their home and their world record-holding cats in a house fire in November have a message for others.

"Everything can change in an instant," wrote Lauren Powers in a Facebook post on Wednesday. "Snuggle your babies and significant others a little longer each night, and appreciate the beauty in seemingly ordinary moments."

Powers and her husband Will moved into their "beautiful house in Farmington Hills" a year ago Wednesday. They shared the home with their three cats, Cygnus, Arcturus and Sirius. Two of the cats were in the Guinness Book of World Records – Cygnus, for the longest tail, and Arcturus, for being the tallest cat.

Their home and the cats they loved were lost in a fire on Nov. 11. The fire has been attributed to a massage chair that had been plugged in, but turned off, Will Powers said. He said he could not give more details about the brand of chair.

After more than a month of searching nearby neighborhoods for the cats, they found remains of two of three of their felines as they excavated the burned out shell of their former home. Lauren Powers makes it clear they have not gotten over their losses, but she and her husband are looking forward to becoming whole again.

Will Powers said on Friday that the couple plans to rebuild their home on the same site.

"Our next challenging obstacle is finding peace, purpose, and meaning on a different path," wrote Lauren Powers on Facebook. "Our family, friends, and coworkers have been so supportive of us as we figure things out – thank you all so so much. What we do know is that we're going to rebuild a house and life there."

Her advice to others, though, goes beyond hugging loved ones. It also included a suggestion that many homeowners take for granted – planning ahead for a fire. That includes, she writes, "LOTS of extinguishers (one was not enough), ladders for upstairs bedrooms, and fire masks to give you more time to get loved ones out."

Her husband concurred. The mask, he said, saved his life and gave him chance to wake a house guest and hunt for the cats in their fire. "Otherwise I'd have just had to escape immediately on my own. I can't recommend having one enough. It was so smoky so fast," Will Powers said.

Many firefighters would agree with the tips: Being prepared and having a plan matters. In the case of the Powers, they had a plan, but it still did not quite work out.

"Will and I will be okay at some point," Lauren Powers wrote. "Thank you to everyone that supports the fact that we're not okay just yet. We have a long road ahead, but I know with certainty we will be thankful for each step along the way."

File photos by the Associated Press