A routine Sunday patrol in Culpeper, Virginia, turned into a rescue mission when a police officer spotted a tiny kitten sitting alone in the middle of a roadway.

Master Police Officer K. Argueta was on patrol when he saw the kitten in the road, according to a Facebook post from the Culpeper Police Department. He stopped to rescue the animal and searched the surrounding area for its mother and any littermates, but found none.

The kitten's story took an even sweeter turn after the rescue. Master Police Officer E. Sweet and his wife, who run a cat rescue, stepped in to help. The couple is fostering the tiny black kitten, small enough to fit in one hand, until it's old enough to be adopted.

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The department celebrated the rescue on social media, noting that Argueta and Sweet can now add "kitten rescuer" to their resumés. For a kitten that started the day stranded in traffic, the officers' quick actions helped set it on the path to a fur-ever home.

What to do if you find a stray kitten

Come across a kitten on its own? Here are a few tips before you scoop it up:

• Watch and wait. A mother cat is often nearby, hunting or moving her litter. If the kitten isn't in immediate danger, observe from a distance for an hour or two to see if mom returns.
• Check for danger. If the kitten is in a road, exposed to extreme weather or clearly sick or injured, step in right away.
• Keep it warm. Young kittens can't regulate their body temperature. Wrap it gently in a soft towel or blanket.
• Don't feed cow's milk. It can upset a kitten's stomach. If you must feed one, use kitten formula from a pet store.
• Call for help. Contact a local animal shelter, rescue organization or veterinarian for guidance on next steps and fostering or adoption options.

Lead editor Chris DeWeese edits Morning Brief, The Weather Channel’s newsletter.