The "Help! My cat's stuck up a tree" guide
Source: Cats in trees
Any cat owner will know how adept these animals are at scaling trees, telegraph poles and anything else that would induce vertigo in a regular human. In most cases they can find their way up and down again with no trouble. However, there is always a slight chance that a cat will climb a tree only to get stuck because it is too scared or distressed to find its own way down. This can occur if it has climbed too high or if it has somehow injured itself while trying to reach new heights.
If you have spotted your cat on a tree branch or up a telegraph pole, the first thing to do is stay calm. Just remember that even if the cat is meowing, in most cases it will find its way back down on its own. Hunger, boredom or tiredness will motivate the animal to solve the problem and get back onto solid ground. What you must remember to do is to monitor the situation, making sure that your kitty is not in any immediate danger.
Here are some signs that you should start to worry about your cat:
- It is a kitten or an inexperienced young feline that is stuck
- It is currently a very hot day or the weather looks like it will take a turn for the worse
- The cat is stuck up an electrical pylon or is close to some other source of electricity
- You can see that kitty is sick or injured and in need of assistance
In these circumstances, it is important to contact the relevant authorities. Never try to rescue the cat on your own, especially since you may not have the necessary skills, experience or tools to successfully complete the job. It is a much better idea to call your local animal society, fire department, wildlife removal company or tree pruner instead. If you feel that you must do something, you can always try and coax your cat down with a tin of tasty cat food or its favourite toy. You can also try to soothe kitty's nerves by climbing up to it, but remember that your pet will be distressed and can act unpredictably. Just avoid reaching out to it as this can scare it away to a more difficult spot or result in your cat scratching and injuring you.
If anyone has any stories about their cats being rescued after being stuck up a tree, please leave a comment below! As well as this, if you have any useful tips and techniques to aid others in this matter, we would also love to hear from you. Any information will be very much appreciated on this often distressing and very urgent topic.
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Comments (1)
barbara hymers April 9, 2012 4:41 AM
Flagmy 6month old kitten was in a tree for 36 hours and no-one seemed interested in helping. my son finally came from his job 25 miles away and climbed the tree and rescued her. Since then she has gone up the same tree again and luckily my son was at home and got her within a couple of hours. having now been rescued twice i am sure she would go back up the tree knowing someone will get her down. Sadly its not a risk i want to take but how can i stop her. My brother suggests leaving her there until she comes down on her own but that could take days, and her constant crying annoyed the neighbours the first time. Should i warn the rspca and my neighbours that i am going to let her outside again and its likely she will climb the tree again and see what happens. she is desperate to get out and she is driving me nuts climbing the curtains and blinds looking for an exit.
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