When to remove a cat from a tree
Cats' paws have a special structure that easily allows them to climb almost any vertical surface, including trees. But if a cat can climb up without any problems, then problems often arise with descent to the ground. Animals are simply afraid to climb backwards, and jumping is not always possible.
You can try to persuade the kitten to get off the branch
So how do you understand that a cat has climbed a tree and cannot get down, and what to do in such a situation?
The first sign that a furry one needs help is that it begins to meow pitifully. An animal can sit on one branch for a long time, afraid to move or walk a little where it considers it safe.
Note! If it is cold outside, then you need to start a rescue operation immediately. The cat may freeze, and weakened muscles simply cannot support the weight of his body. In addition, it is worth remembering that the wind is felt stronger at the top, so it is extremely important to lower the animal before it gets frostbite.
If crows are spotted nearby, then you shouldn’t hesitate either. A cat can become an easy target for them, because on a tree he will not be able to repel these bloodthirsty birds, especially if he poses a threat to their nests.
What to do if a cat climbed a tree but can’t get back down
Many cat owners panic much more than the animals themselves; if the pet has developed some climbing and descent skills, there is no need to panic. cat behaves : he is calm and does not scream, does not worry or get nervous, perhaps it is worth suffering a little. Your cat (cat), having had enough of its time, may get off on its own a little later. If the skill of conquering peaks in cats has been worked out to the smallest detail, then the descent is accessible to not many; the complex structure of the bones allows cats and female cats to quickly climb up, but to descend they have to back away; not all animals have such skills.
In what cases is it recommended to remove a cat from a tree :
- If you don’t want to wait in vain, there are some conditions and situations in which it is simply necessary to remove a cat, these include:
- If the pet is very worried: constantly meows, rushes about, trembles, and so on.
- If the animal looks weak and tired. Usually this means that the cat is emotionally exhausted, fear and nerves have exhausted the animal, and in the end it will simply fall due to loss of strength.
- If an animal is at altitude for more than a day, it can simply lose strength and fall at any moment.
- If the cat is young and simply does not have the skills to descend, then they can only be saved with someone else's help.
- The weather is bad outside, rain, snow, frost, it is better to remove the animal as soon as possible.
- An animal can climb a tree with various accessories (leash, clothing, harness, etc.), and there is a risk of injury in the branches, possibly even suffocation.
- If the descent is dangerous, it has climbed very high, there are power lines nearby, and so on.
- If you feel that the cat will not get off on its own.
In all of the above situations, it is necessary to release the animal.
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The first thing to start a rescue operation is to try to talk to the stuck animal. It will be better if he hears the voice not of a stranger, but of the owner or one of the family members.
This method does not work often and may be effective when:
- the cat had not been sitting on the tree for very long and had not yet had time to get very excited;
- the furry one is stuck low and just needs support to decide to jump;
- the animal trusts its owner so much that it is ready to take a risk and jump to him from a height.
However, as mentioned above, talking to a cat stuck in a tree is one of the most ineffective methods and rarely helps.
We provide assistance
- Sometimes a cat is able to come down from a tree on its own. It only takes a little time and no distractions. Try calling your pet and gently enticing him with a treat. If that doesn't work, leave the bowl of food at the roots of the tree and walk away. Tuna is a good bait because it has a strong scent and is liked by many cats. If the animal is hungry, this may work. It is important not to spook the cat while she is coming down. Ask people around you to move away and not make noise.
- You can also try laying out a blanket or placing an old mattress under a tree. If the cat can clearly see the ground, it will try to jump or climb down. Another way to help your pet is to lean a stable ladder or large branch against the tree. Make sure they are secure and then step away. This “bridge” will most likely be useful to the cat when descending.
- When the above methods do not work, it is worth climbing up to remove the cat. Important: prepare a strong ladder that will definitely not fall with you and the cat! Don't try to rescue an animal alone: you'll need a safety net at the bottom of the stairs. Wear thick, long gloves and long sleeves, as even a gentle pet can become aggressive in a stressful situation. Do not force your cat away from the tree to avoid damaging its claws.
- You can use a rope to lift a pet carrier or laundry basket if the branch is not too high. Place some food or treats inside and see if it gets your cat's attention. If you're lucky, the animal will respond to the bait and enter the carrier, which you then carefully lower down.
- If all else fails, contact a professional animal rescue service or the Ministry of Emergency Situations. Some people advise waiting 24 hours and giving the cat a chance to come down on its own, but the decision needs to be made based on the specific situation. If it's cold, rainy, or your cat is visibly stressed, seek help immediately. Remember that a cat stuck in a tree for a short time will not have access to food or water and will be dehydrated and weak from hunger. In some cities there are volunteers and special organizations ready to help animals. For example, in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region there is a rescue service “Koshkispas”, and in Moscow there is a private one.
Photo:
Feeding the steeplejack
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One of the options for getting a cat out of a tree is to bait the steeplejack with a tasty treat. This will work especially well on an animal that has been sitting on a high tree for a long time and has become hungry.
Important! As a bait, you should choose a medium-sized tasty treat so that the cat can definitely see it. An important factor is the smell of the treat; it must be strong so that the stuck animal can feel it even at a decent height.
If the owner knows what delicacy his pet prefers, it is worth using this particular food as bait.
It will be most convenient if the cat is stuck on a branch located near the balconies of residential buildings. Then it will be easier for a person to lure a steeplejack with a tasty treat through a window or vent.
Is it possible to drag a cat by the tail?
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When the question arises of how to remove a cat from a tree, all available methods are used. It happens that the cat is either stuck low or sitting on a branch growing not far from the balcony or window. Sometimes it happens that a person climbs the stairs to a height where a fluffy one is stuck, but the latter is not given into his hands.
Then you need to remove the victim by force. In general, the cat's tail is quite fragile and plays an important physiological role, but if pulling on it is the only way out of the situation, then you can resort to it.
How can you tell if your cat needs help?
If you spot a cat in a tree, don't panic right away. First, find out whether the animal really cannot go down. When a cat sits calmly on a branch and watches what is happening around, most likely now she is just resting and will be able to get down on her own. If the animal is scared, rushes from side to side and screams, then it is impossible to do without outside intervention. Such cats rarely get off on their own, and with each passing hour they will become weaker from stress and dehydration.
But these animals are excellent climbers, capable of climbing almost any surface! In fact, a cat's curved claws help when it grabs the bark of a tree when climbing up, but they work differently when going down. Unlike squirrels, cats cannot climb upside down. They should do this in much the same way as people do when walking down stairs. This is more difficult to understand and master. In addition, the less experience a pet has in climbing trees, the higher the risk of serious injury.
Using a laser pointer
This method will work best with a young cat or kitten stuck on a tree branch. Growing animals are naturally more playful than their adult relatives. And almost everyone knows the love of cats for the red dot from a laser pointer.
When a cat is removed from a tree, it is not a fact that he will not climb it again
If the steeplejack is sitting in a place where the leaves do not block the view, you can try to lure him down using a laser pointer. You just need to shine the light first on the tree where the cat is sitting. Then, when the animal notices the red dot, slowly move it to the lower branches.
Important! In this situation, the person has the responsible task of choosing the safest route to descend. An enthusiastic cat may forget about caution and inadvertently fall or jump onto an unstable branch. The person must move the pointer so that the cat climbs only along a safe path.
Physiological differences
The structure of a cat's claws
To climb a tree, a cat actively uses its claws. They can be released or retracted. The shape and structure of cat claws are unique. Their crescent shape and pointed tips allow the cat to easily cling to various surfaces.
This feature is characteristic only of cats; dogs are completely devoid of it. Dog claws are straighter, with blunt tips. In addition, they do not retract into their paws. They are definitely not suitable for tree climbing.
The next difference is in the structure of the skeleton. The cat is ideal for performing acrobatics and climbing trees. Thanks to the elastic connection of the bones, the cat climbs up almost with lightning speed, very deftly maneuvering between the branches. Her cervical vertebrae are connected so movably that she can turn her head in all directions with almost no restrictions. Dogs can only dream of such flexibility. They cannot even turn around in a narrow space, but simply back away.
Cat climbs a tree
The cat's tail helps maintain balance. It is quite flexible, long and mobile. Scientists have even put forward a theory that it helps to land on your feet when falling from a height. Dogs most often use their tail to communicate with their owner. During a fall, they are unable to change their body position, quickly turning over and landing softly on their paws.
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Rescue help
What should you do if your cat is stuck in a tree, you can’t get it off on your own, and she’s afraid to get down? Perhaps you should call the Ministry of Emergency Situations. The rescue service dispatcher will give remote recommendations over the phone on how people should behave before the rescuers arrive.
Don't be afraid to seek help from specialists. They know exactly how to get a cat out of a tree, and will be able to save an animal whose owners’ fear could cost it its life. The owner of a stuck cat should help emergency workers whenever possible. They may need the cat to hear the voice of a familiar person or simply see him. As a rule, cats are more willing to go into the hands of those they know.
Which rescue service will remove a cat?
There are no special organizations whose activities are aimed at rescuing animals from trees in the CIS countries, but employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations can help. The rescue service provides such services only for money. Cat owners can also turn to private companies that cut down old trees, as the employees have access to climbing equipment and have climbing skills. Another option to save your pet is to call your utility company and check if they have climbers on staff. There's no point in calling the fire department.
