The department will receive the Compassionate Lifesafer award.
A woman had called 911 saying her 2-year-old "baby" was trapped. Upon arrival, the firefighters learned that "Baby" was the name of a cat.
The cat was rescued.
"They said they were desperate, didn't know what else to do," Houston Fire Department Captain Keith Ellery said. "It is not the type of rescue we normally do ... but on this particular incident, we felt compelled to kind of help them out."
"We commend the Houston Fire Department for extending its emergency services to all those in need without regard to race, color, creed or species," said PETA Director Daphna Nachminovitch. "The compassionate actions of Houston's firefighters are a welcome example of how a government agency can use resources to help people and the animals they cherish."