SARASOTA COUNTY - A mother and her three children have no home after a fire destroyed it Thursday morning.

The fire happened on Weeping Willow in the Bent Tree neighborhood east of I-75 around 6:45am.

The mother was making breakfast in the toaster oven. She left the room to go talk to her son. The toaster over caught fire and spread to the cabinets. She tried unsuccessfully to put it out and called 911. The fire then spread to the attic.

Two of her children were home at the time getting ready for school. They managed to get out safely. Firefighters tried to revive the two cats, but they died of smoke inhalation. Their pet dog did survive.

Sarasota County fire officials say the house is completely destroyed. It has extensive fire, smoke and water damage and is completely inhabitable.

ABC 7 talked to the homeowner, a single mom. She did not want to talk to us on camera, but did say she's still very much in shock. It was a very traumatic experience for her and her three children.

Captain Susan Pierceon of the Sarasota County Fire Department says it was a 2-alarm fire with 22 firefighters responding. There were 11 units, all from Sarasota county, except for one in Nokomis.

The family has refused help with the Red Cross. They are currently staying across the street with a neighbor.