Fantasy: My cat is ‘stuck’ up in a tree or on a power pole.
Reality: My cat is up a tree or power pole and wants my instant attention.
If left alone, that cat will climb down quite safely, all by itself. Our emergency services no longer will do responses for animals ‘stuck’ up high, unless the animal can be seen to be caught by something – like a small branch poked through its collar, or a piece of cord wrapped around both what it has climbed and the animal (IE: ‘tethered’).
And that says nothing about the ER visit the ‘rescuer’ has to make after being scythed by those claws – either because the animal is scared of being dropped, or because it genuinely thinks it is being attacked in its place of refuge. Our city had one ER person who took a bad fall – he was wearing protective gear to cover his face and upper body from being clawed. The stiff protective gloves caused him to lose his grip on his support – a ladder – and he fell about 15 feet. The cat promptly climbed down the power pole on its own and ran off.
When we had an outdoor cat, she was quite an acrobat. From a standing start, she could launch herself very easily to a height of more than 8 feet. That made it quite easy for her to jump up on the railing of our deck, and from there to the overhanging roof. Then she would walk up the roof to the ridge pole and squat there, meowing piteously. If ignored, after about half an hour of failing to get ‘rescued’, she would reverse her path and descend quite easily, all by herself.
Maybe we humans have been reacting to a false interpretation of this feline behavior. Instead of the cries being from fear, maybe it’s a call to gather ’round for some entertainment. We do that for street musicians.
momofalex7 over 2 years ago
We used to tell our daughter not to climb any higher than she could get down. Seemed to work just fine.
hagarthehorrible over 2 years ago
The outstretched arms of Gumbos are delight to all creatures in the vicinity.
i_am_the_jam over 2 years ago
We had one cat that had no problems stepping off the branch into our hands.
Wichita1.0 over 2 years ago
And squirrel stew it IS. Hope Rose didn’t use all the crackers in those habenero slice mini sandwiches.
SrTechWriter over 2 years ago
Fantasy: My cat is ‘stuck’ up in a tree or on a power pole.
Reality: My cat is up a tree or power pole and wants my instant attention.
If left alone, that cat will climb down quite safely, all by itself. Our emergency services no longer will do responses for animals ‘stuck’ up high, unless the animal can be seen to be caught by something – like a small branch poked through its collar, or a piece of cord wrapped around both what it has climbed and the animal (IE: ‘tethered’).
And that says nothing about the ER visit the ‘rescuer’ has to make after being scythed by those claws – either because the animal is scared of being dropped, or because it genuinely thinks it is being attacked in its place of refuge. Our city had one ER person who took a bad fall – he was wearing protective gear to cover his face and upper body from being clawed. The stiff protective gloves caused him to lose his grip on his support – a ladder – and he fell about 15 feet. The cat promptly climbed down the power pole on its own and ran off.
When we had an outdoor cat, she was quite an acrobat. From a standing start, she could launch herself very easily to a height of more than 8 feet. That made it quite easy for her to jump up on the railing of our deck, and from there to the overhanging roof. Then she would walk up the roof to the ridge pole and squat there, meowing piteously. If ignored, after about half an hour of failing to get ‘rescued’, she would reverse her path and descend quite easily, all by herself.
Thechildinme over 2 years ago
Maybe we humans have been reacting to a false interpretation of this feline behavior. Instead of the cries being from fear, maybe it’s a call to gather ’round for some entertainment. We do that for street musicians.
morgankhat over 2 years ago
A squirrel in hand is worth two in the bush. https://freerangeamerican.us/perfect-fried-squirrel/
Ukko wilko over 2 years ago
Did you ever see a cat skeleton in a tree? They get themselves up, they can get themselves down.