While stopping homicidal maniacs and saving the world are among Superman’s greatest feats, it’s often the time he takes to help others that leaves the biggest impression. While Superman can simply fly up and grab a cat stuck in a tree, the average good guy can accomplish the same rescue with nothing more than a can of cat food or a tall ladder. Most fire companies no longer respond to calls involving cats stuck in trees, on telephone poles, or on other high perches, so it’s up to you to save the day.
Step 1: Wait it out.
If confronted by such a kitty conundrum, first consider waiting it out. The cat will likely come down eventually, unless it climbs to a height from which it might be too scared to descend.
Step 2: Entice it with food.
Hunger is a great motivator, especially for a kitten that has been perched in a tree for several hours. Just place a can of cat food or tuna under the tree or pole, and wait for the kitten to climb down. A tame house cat may come down more quickly than a feral cat that is wary of human contact. You may have to leave the can of food and move away from the tree and out of a skittish cat’s sight so that she’ll feel comfortable enough to climb down.
Step 3: Get a tall ladder.
If the kitten is too frightened to climb down, even for food, find a ladder of suitable height and climb it to retrieve her. Have someone hold the base of the ladder steady, especially when you near the cat and face the precarious task of grabbing hold of an animal that may scratch or bite in defense. For this reason, wear heavy work gloves or garden gloves. Climb past the kitten so that her first inclination isn’t to climb farther up the tree. In fact, your very presence may leave her no alternative but to make her own descent.
Step 4: Grab and hold tight.
A tame cat that knows you might jump into your arms with a friendly purr. More likely, you will face a hissing cat with raised hackles. Carefully grab the cat by the scruff of her neck and hold tight. Gripped in this position, she shouldn’t be able to bite or claw you. The cat may thrash, necessitating a firm grip. An alternative is to use a net that’s strong enough to hold a cat, with holes smaller than a standard fishing net. You don’t want a cat slicing her way free of a net high above the ground.
Step 5: Climb down.
The tricky part is climbing down with one hand clutching a thrashing kitten and the other clinging to the ladder’s rungs. Tread carefully so you don’t fall and don’t drop the kitten. Once you’re close to the ground, let the cat down or pass her off to the person holding the ladder so that you can complete the climb down safely.
