Charlie the cat found himself in a bit of a pickle recently, having got himself stuck up a 60ft tree in Wilmslow!
The ginger puss was spotted by a worried local who had heard meowing coming from high up in the branches of the tall tree, located in a wooded area off Vale Road.
The RSPCA said: “Charlie was stuck in an extremely tall tree but jumped to another trunk and clambered down before running away – only to climb yet another tree!”
The RSPCA assessed the situation and decided that, after at least three days of being stuck, the cat needed some help to get down.
RSPCA animal collection officer (ACO) Lauren Bradshaw attended on Thursday 29th March and it soon became clear that she’d need help from a tree surgeon.
“Neighbours believed the cat had been stuck up the tree for at least three days and I was concerned that he’d not had any food or water in that time and was stuck very high up,” Lauren explained.
“The tree was very tall and was in a ravine which made access extremely difficult. Thankfully, a local tree surgeon was able to assist and was quick to attend.
“He managed to safely scale the tree but, because Charlie was at the highest point of the tree, he couldn’t reach him with the grasper.
“The puss panicked and jumped into the next tree which was much easier for him to climb down and he scurried down and ran off into a neighbouring garden.”
ACO Bradshaw added: “When I returned to my van I had a note on my windscreen saying that a local family was missing their cat.
“When they saw my van they’d had a slight sense of hope that he’d been found! They showed me some pictures and it looked like the cat we’d helped was theirs – a young ginger male called Charlie.
“I went back to the gardens to try to find him and I could hear crying so I followed the noise, and there he was – stuck up another tree! I couldn’t believe it!
“Luckily this tree wasn’t anywhere near as high so I was able to use my ladders to reach him and used some food to coax him to me.
“I got him in my van, scanned his microchip and they matched the nearby house whose cat was missing. I rushed back there to give them the good news and reunite Charlie.
“They were overwhelmed to have him home and couldn’t quite believe what we have been through to rescue him. After being missing for nine days they thought the worst.”
Sandra Cook, Charlie’s owner, commented: “After three or four days we had started to lose hope a little.
“We’d put his picture all over the internet, spoken to neighbours, put up fliers and been out looking for him and calling his name.
“We always knew that the RSPCA do an amazing job but, having been on the receiving end of their help, it really brings home how special the RSPCA is.”
Charlie, who turns one on 18 April, is now enjoying lots of extra cuddles and will even be getting a special cat-friendly birthday cake to celebrate his homecoming and his first birthday.
Cats often climb trees but usually make their way back down.
The RSPCA advise the following: “Many years of experience have taught us that it’s often better to leave them alone, so if it’s fair weather and the cat appears healthy, we ask that people monitor the situation.
“We ask that people call our 24 hour cruelty & advice line on 0300 1234 999 immediately if a kitten or young cat is up a tree or the cat appears to be sick or injured in some way.
“It is important not to attempt to rescue a cat yourself.”
