How to get a cat out of a tree

Upon climbing a tree your cat may find he is stuck and discover he cannot go forward down the tree the way he came up.  He becomes frightened and needs your assistance which you would be willing to give, if only you knew what to do.  This is a problem many cat owners find themselves facing.  Here are a few ideas to help you figure out the best solution to getting him out of that tree.

When a cat climbs a tree his claws grip and hold as he pulls himself upward.  His weight is below his claws which keeps him from falling.  When, he tries to descend forward straight down, his claws work against him.  Unless he can figure out how to come down backwards he will continue being stuck.  You may discover him hours after he has gone missing, meowing his little heart out.  The cries he emits are not normal cries, they are cries of distress.  You may hear him meowing constantly because he feels insecure.  The best rule to follow with this emergency is like that of any other emergency, and that is to keep calm.  When you conquer your unease you become part of the solution, making the rescue go smoother.

If a cat slips when attempting to come down he may climb even higher.  He may do this anyway if a sudden noise or movement scares him such as a barking dog or a running child.  A spooked cat tends to scurry, which could bring on a dangerous fall.  Cats are sure footed but you never know what fright will make them do.  A cat falling out of a tree at the height of two stories may sustain injuries requiring surgery, if he happily escapes death.

Often a cat will climb a tree because he is being chased.  When he doesn’t come down after the threat goes away you might want to intervene.  It’s a good idea though to let him try and come down on his own before organizing a rescue effort.  Often cats require time to overcome physiological grievance before reentering the potential danger zone.

One of the most drastic ways to rescue a treed cat is to cut down the tree.  The cat feels the vibes of the saw or axe and climbs to the very top branches in the tree; as it falls the cat comes out unscathed.  I hardly think this would be a first choice rescue for even the most anxious owner.  This type of rescue is usually done by owners that live in a wooded area or wilderness where losing a tree is not an eyesore to the landscape design.

A first choice rescue however might be to offer your cat his favorite meal.  A cat gets hungry after five hours or so in a tree.  I've heard of owners shaking the cat's dry food sack to wake interest.  Opening a can of wet cat food is a charm your cat may find hard to resist.  In times past the sounds of food wrappers and the opening of cans are sounds that have caused your cat to come running during the normal course of a day.  There are a percentage of cats that will take the bait.

While tempting your cat with food, talk calmly to him, using reassuring words to quiet him so he will be less scared.  Your voice is familiar to him and seeing his favorite person might coax him down without further ado.

A cat naturally gravitates to the person who ignores him.  There is a theory behind this reasoning, intriguing certain cat owners to use this scheme for rescue efforts.  Obviously this method works, or it would not be handed down as a famed rescue technique.  Going indoors and leaving your pet stuck in a tree may be out of the question for you.  Don’t think for a minute it will not work, until you have honestly tried it for at least a couple of hours.

This next rescue, which is a proven one, was created by a cat owner not so long ago.  We can tip our hats to him, because this rescue alone has saved many an owner much grief.  The method used might be referred to as the old basket trick, to use 007’s (Get Smart) language.  The whole idea behind the basket rescue is to give the cat a secure ride back to safety.  The equipment needed for this rescue can be found in nearly any home.  You’ll need a correct length of rope (nylon works best) to reach the branch near the cats’ perch, a deep sturdy laundry basket or hamper with a lid, a weight such as a small shoe, a towel or small blanket, and cat food.

Tie the weight to one end of the rope and throw it over the branch and close to the cat.  Hopefully this action will not make him freak out.  Tie the basket to the other end of the rope in a secure way as to keep the basket from tipping side to side as it is being hoisted to the branch.  Prior to hoisting the basket, put the blanket or towel into the bottom as a comfort cushion, and some food to lure the hungry cat into the basket.  When the cat jumps in and starts to eat, lower the basket slowly to the ground.

Be cautious as the basket reaches the ground; it’s not over yet.  Put a lid on the basket to keep the critter from jumping out and running back up that tree.  Take him into the house, in the basket.  Continue being careful removing the lid, as this might be the time for him to thank you with a good swipe of his paw.  He may still be upset and lash out to prove it.  Leave him alone until he decides it's time to jump out and be civil.  Please don't let him outside right away; he may decide he liked all the attention and try this trick again.

Like I said, a lot of people do have success with this particular rescue; but just in case you try it and do not succeed, there is one other method I will suggest.  If the cat is not too far up a tree, you might carefully mount your trusty extension ladder to rescue him yourself.  This may be a little risky for the nonprofessional.

Be sure to clothe yourself in a coat, and wear heavy gloves suitable to protect yourself from teeth and claws.  Also, take a pillowcase with you to deposit the cat into once you manage to grab him.  Remember the cat is upset; he is not a happy camper.  He is not going to stop to consider you, for the rescuer you are, especially in the disguise you are wearing.  For all he knows you are just a fearsome creature come to harm him.  The concept may seem crazy but that is generally the way these rescues go.

Take the cat by the nap of his neck when you get close enough.  He will be easier to handle this way.  It's always best to have at least one other person accompanying you, in case you need assistance.  He can help with the bagged cat for a safer descent down the ladder.  Accidents can happen when ladders are involved, especially if a frightened cat decides to attack.

Now, my Barney has never been stuck in a tree.  I doubt I will have to face this problem, unless one day darting out the door he is able to climb a tree lacking his front claws.

Upon visiting Barney's veterinarian one day, a lady told of the experience with her cat climbing trees after he’d been declawed.  I sure hope this is an isolated instance.  We have very tall trees around our home.  I would hate having him scale one of these giants, as I hear it would be a really tough job getting him down.  If all other rescue methods failed it would cost roughly $200 to have a professional tree climber fetch him.

When stuff happens, people like to find someone to talk to on the telephone.  If you are one of these people then here are a couple ideas for you.  Professional arborists (a tree specialist) can be called at: 1-800-943-0065.  They find someone in your area that can help you get your cat out of that tree.  There is also a web site for a national director of arborists that make it their job to rescue cats.  The web site www.catinatreerescue.com is an easy address to remember, if you ever need help. The Arboreal Cat Rescuers Guide is listed for one of their articles to read, which includes some of the suggestions I give in this article and some additional unique rescue methods you might want to consider.

The professional tree climbers report seeing cat skeletons in tall trees.  Cats stuck in trees, where people are unaware, actually die there.  A tree climber knows this and is willing to rescue your cat from his potential death trap for a fee, of course.  Hopefully the rescue will happen before you have to go through this tremendous expense.

You might also call your cat's veterinary office; often they have helpful suggestions. It is not advisable to call your local police or fire stations. They no longer do cat rescues and will not come when you call.  They need to be at their post awaiting people emergencies.  Plus their insurance policies might not include a clause for cat rescue operations.

Sometimes calling a friend will give you the support you need to keep calm.  You need to focus and if a friend can help, I am sure they would be more than willing to comply.

Here are the main points I have given to sum up this article.  Remember to talk calmly to your treed cat as you are persuading him to come down.  If you are the one that feeds him, then you are the one he will most likely listen to.  You must stay at ease to help alleviate his fears; otherwise he might climb higher making his rescue less viable.  Sudden noises and movements can cause him to climb higher.  If you decide to use a ladder rescue, protect yourself with extra clothing to keep from getting bit or scratched.  And above all, do not give up.  The sooner he is rescued, the better off your cat will be.  He could die in that tree!  You wouldn't want that on your conscience.  It is not an easy thing to shrug off, once you are guilty of letting your pet die if rescue is at all possible.

Slightly over thirty-two percent of American homes own cats according to market research statistics of U.S. pet ownership in the year 2007*.  The number reported calculates to 37,460,000 homes that own at least one cat.    When you multiply that number by the average number of cats in each individual home, 2.2 then you get the total number of cats abiding in the U.S. for the year in question.  There were 81,721,000 cats owned by Americans in the year 2007.  This number is astounding; can you imagine how many more cats there are today, and the percent that get stuck in trees each year?  The amount of both is staggering, I am certain.


When it comes right down to pure fact, you might say Americans love cats.  These statistics were taken to calculate the number of dollars spent on veterinary care in 2007 per animal.  That comes to $81 for each cat.  Our Veterinary clinics are getting paid a fair share to keep up the good health of our pet cat population.  Is it any wonder Americans want to rescue their cats when they get stuck in trees?  Besides loving their pets these cat owners have a lot invested in their care.  If you love a cat then it’s important you understand the logistics supporting cat rescues. 




Source

*2007 U.S. Pet Ownership & Demographics Sourcebook.