Cat in a tree--RESCUED.

[AcrossThePondAsh]

Our neighbors work with the local, county SPCA. About a year ago she adopted two feral cats. They let them out during the day and keep them in at night (we have coyotes here in the mountains). When they went to get the cats in last night they couldn't find one. The lots where we live are heavily wooded and about 4 acres each. They finally found her about 40-45' up in a pine tree. We tried coaxing, food, cat nip, toys, etc. and even trying getting to her with a 24' ladder but the lower limbs of the pine are all dead and rotted. This morning the cat had moved about 20' feet further up. They called a tree service who climbed to within two feet and nearly had her but she got scared and went another 20' higher (all told about 75' feet high now). The tree service wasn't comfortable going any higher as they were worried about the "green" portion of the pine not supporting the climbers weight. Local ladder trucks w/ the fire department aren't an option and what we call "cherry pickers" (sometimes called bucket trucks) can't get that deep in the woods.

We're at our wits end trying to help our neighbors and Luna, their cat. With all the animals lovers on here we thought it was worth a shot to try crowd sourcing it. Any ideas, suggestions, etc. would be appreciated.

[Sara]

They generally come down when they're ready.

[CUSSIE01]

Something has obviously scared the bejesus out of the poor thing and all the fuss has probably scared it even more. As Sara says it will come down when it’s ready, I’d give it 24/48 hours peace to work things out, hunger will be a great motivator.

[Kennyb41]

They generally come down when they're ready.

This ^

Just put a bowl of Kit e kat on the lowest branches, and go to bed.

She will not be up that tree in the morning, 100% guaranteed.

[AcrossThePondAsh]

Something has obviously scared the bejesus out of the poor thing and all the fuss has probably scared it even more. As Sara says it will come down when it’s ready, I’d give it 24/48 hours peace to work things out, hunger will be a great motivator.

Yeah, we’re just worried because of how high the cat has gone up - about 75ft. They seem to go up easy but have a harder time coming back down. Just wondered if anyone had any experience with this sort of thing.

[AcrossThePondAsh]

They generally come down when they're ready.

That’s what we thought too. She was at about 40 ft last night and went up to about 60 ft by the morning. Never seen a cat go up further like that. I imagine she is terrified so just grasping at anything at the moment.

[AcrossThePondAsh]

This ^

Just put a bowl of Kit e kat on the lowest branches, and go to bed.

She will not be up that tree in the morning, 100% guaranteed.

We’ve done that KB Hope you’re right.

[Sara]

Has she come down yet?

[Ellandback1]

When I was young one of my mums cats got stuck on a factory roof. The fire brigade said they wouldn't come for 48 hours, but she threatened to go and rescue the cat herself, and they were there in a few hours.

Amazingly, as soon as the ladder was up, Chocky climbed down the ladder himself without the firemen going up.

[Overman]

Our neighbors work with the local, county SPCA. About a year ago she adopted two feral cats. They let them out during the day and keep them in at night (we have coyotes here in the mountains). When they went to get the cats in last night they couldn't find one. The lots where we live are heavily wooded and about 4 acres each. They finally found her about 40-45' up in a pine tree. We tried coaxing, food, cat nip, toys, etc. and even trying getting to her with a 24' ladder but the lower limbs of the pine are all dead and rotted. This morning the cat had moved about 20' feet further up. They called a tree service who climbed to within two feet and nearly had her but she got scared and went another 20' higher (all told about 75' feet high now). The tree service wasn't comfortable going any higher as they were worried about the "green" portion of the pine not supporting the climbers weight. Local ladder trucks w/ the fire department aren't an option and what we call "cherry pickers" (sometimes called bucket trucks) can't get that deep in the woods.

We're at our wits end trying to help our neighbors and Luna, their cat. With all the animals lovers on here we thought it was worth a shot to try crowd sourcing it. Any ideas, suggestions, etc. would be appreciated.

Just out of curiousity, whereabouts do you live? It sounds like a lovely place.

Good luck with the cats, as mentioned already, they will eventually find a way to come back down.

[AcrossThePondAsh]

Just out of curiousity, whereabouts do you live? It sounds like a lovely place.

Good luck with the cats, as mentioned already, they will eventually find a way to come back down.

Thanks, Overman--we've got our fingers crossed. We live in the Appalachian mountains of western North Carolina, just a few miles from the Blue Ridge Parkawy--it is quite beautiful.

[AcrossThePondAsh]

Update on Luna's situation: She's still about 70' up in the top of the pine tree. We spent several hours before sundown last night, with our neighbors, clearing the undergrowth from around the base of the pine tree--mainly other small pines and rhododendrons. We then strung up five tarps in a square area about 20 ft by 16 ft and about five feet off the ground. The hope is if she becomes dehydrated, the wind picks up, or she falls for whatever reason, the tarps will cushion her landing.

Thanks again to everyone for the suggestions and kind words--if anyone has any other ideas or suggestions, please don't hesitate to share them. I'll keep everyone posted.

[AcrossThePondAsh]

Has she come down yet?

Not yet, Sara. I posted an update at the end of the thread. Thanks for checking in.

[AcrossThePondAsh]

When I was young one of my mums cats got stuck on a factory roof. The fire brigade said they wouldn't come for 48 hours, but she threatened to go and rescue the cat herself, and they were there in a few hours.

Amazingly, as soon as the ladder was up, Chocky climbed down the ladder himself without the firemen going up.

I'm glad that worked out for your mom's cat, EB. My wife actually had a similar idea when this cat was lower in the tree, mainly to cut another smaller tree and then prop it up at angle just beneath where the cat was, giving her a kind of ramp to come down. Unfortunately, once it was light enough this morning our neighbor saw that she had climbed another 20' further up the tree. At that point she was too high to make it feasible to try the tree ramp.

[Irish Ian]

Tell some local redneck that the cat is burglar or a democat it wont be long before he reaches for his trusty AR-15.

Either that or wait until it wants to come home.

[1964white]

Update on Luna's situation: She's still about 70' up in the top of the pine tree. We spent several hours before sundown last night, with our neighbors, clearing the undergrowth from around the base of the pine tree--mainly other small pines and rhododendrons. We then strung up five tarps in a square area about 20 ft by 16 ft and about five feet off the ground. The hope is if she becomes dehydrated, the wind picks up, or she falls for whatever reason, the tarps will cushion her landing.

Thanks again to everyone for the suggestions and kind words--if anyone has any other ideas or suggestions, please don't hesitate to share them. I'll keep everyone posted.

Hope Luna returns to ground level safely, Ash.

[Jaydog]

Are you sure the cat isn’t called Lunar?
It’s trying to get to the moon

[AcrossThePondAsh]

Tell some local redneck that the cat is burglar or a democat it wont be long before he reaches for his trusty AR-15.

Either that or wait until it wants to come home.

Think we'll play it safe for all involved and go with the second option, Ian.

[AcrossThePondAsh]

Hope Luna returns to ground level safely, Ash.

Thanks, '64. Us too.

[AcrossThePondAsh]

Are you sure the cat isn’t called Lunar?
It’s trying to get to the moon

Did find out that Luna is short for "lunatic"--cause of the cat's zany antics. In this case she's taken things almost literally to another level.