This is the heartwarming moment a fireman used his oxygen mask to revive a kitten that had suffered smoke inhalation during a house fire.

The owner had fled the blazing apartment building with her beloved pet but it began to suffer from severe respiratory distress after inhaling smoke in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China, on November 9.

Footage shows a firefighter removing his own oxygen mask to place it over the kitten. Moments later, the moggy was able to breathe again and was then transported to a local pet clinic for further medical treatment.

The animal was reportedly in stable condition following the fire.

The fireman said: 'I saw the woman holding her kitten and immediately checked it out. We are grateful that the cat did not die.'