You’re surely familiar that cats are fabled to have nine lives. However, when a young cat found itself in the rafters of an auto repair shop in Thailand, a misstep could have easily cost its life—if it weren’t for a young mechanic waltzing toward the back of the shop.

The young man, wearing shorts, and open-toed sandals, was walking toward the back of the store when something caught his eye. His neighbor’s cat began to fall quickly—and headfirst—towards the concrete floor.

KameraOne‘s post showed the young man’s reflexes taking over as he dove for the feline, catching it within what looked like centimeters from the shop floor. The cat must have known him because it didn’t fuss about being held close to his chest.

The cat would have likely survived without the mechanic

Cats have remarkably quick reflexes, with plenty of recorded cases of falls from greater heights with minor injuries. Cats are wise enough to turn while in the air, ensuring they fall on their feet every time.

One incident from the 1980s saw a cat fall from an astonishing 32 stories, suffering a chipped tooth and a collapsed lung. However, there are plenty of recorded cases of cats suffering more serious injuries from falls as short as two stories.

Scientists say a cat’s survival rate depends on individual dexterity and the surface it’s landing on.

In all, the cat is very lucky the young mechanic was there to catch it. Otherwise, there was a pretty good chance it would have walked away with a limp.