The One Where We Save Percy, The Cat.

So, every once in a while this blog is not just about Booboo. This would be one of those times. Our cats, as much as they would like it otherwise, are indoor cats. They're usually pretty good about staying inside, but sometimes the outdoors is just too tantalizing to resist. Sure enough, Thursday afternoon, Percy escaped out the front. Before Yaya realized what had happened, she had climbed the neighbor's tree. I came home from work, to see the kitten (I know she's three, but she still seems so much like a kitten to me!) 40 feet up in the air, mewing to beat the band, but not at all looking like she was going to come down!

The next morning we called the ASPCA. They came over, but couldn't do anything, because the tree was over the neighbor's roof, and because the neighbor wasn't home, they weren't allowed to do anything without her permission. Mission aborted that day, Percy is still stuck in the tree. Friday afternoon I went over to the neighbor's (my next door neighbor, and we had never had a real convo, so that was definitely a silver lining of this debacle.) She is a cat lover herself, and said Of Course we have permission to do whatever it takes to get Percy down! However, this permission is coming too late in the day, and Percy will be stuck in the tree for another night without food or water. And Mr. Tea can't sleep knowing she's up there, so he's getting pretty cranky, we're all worried--reading stories about kitties who weren't saved in time, etc...so sad. We should have known Percy wouldn't let something like that be her undoing--she's a survivor, this cat.

The next day was Saturday. I had to work, but had a terrible time staying focused, knowing that my kitty was now up in the tree going on 3 days. And now about 60 feet above the ground. I made multiple calls to the ASPCA, to the fire dept directly, (no can do, individuals can't call the fire station for this kind of thing), calls to tree doctors (no, we don't rescue kitties,) calls to animal rescue places, (no, we don't have any fresh ideas, but tell the ASPCA we're on their case and will call Channel 6 on their tuchus if they don't respond! That was Main Line Animal Rescue--Gotta love them.) Finally, once home I gave the ASPCA one more call. Yes, we'll get someone out there as soon as possible. (Thank god!) They said something about the fire dept, but it was kind of off hand, so I wasn't sure what to make of it.

The Cat Man arrived, took one look at how far Percy was in the tree, and said, "This looks like a job for the fire dept." (I guess--for future reference for all you cat owners--at least in Philly, individuals can't call the fire dept to rescue a cat, but the ASPCA can call on your behalf.)

Now, our house is on a double property, and the second property is a big side yard. The tree in question (of course) is in the middle of the side yard. So, from the street, a hook and ladder truck would have a hard time. Luckily, we have a huge empty parking lot behind our house. (It's where the Cops party in the summer at 2am,) so the hook and ladder truck was able to park there, and bring the ladder all the way up the 60 feet where Percy was in the tree.

Without further ado, let us illustrate:

Boobo0 hanging out in the "engine," waiting for the Cat Man's arrival.

It's hard to make out, but in the crook of the tree you can see Percy's rump.

I wish I had photoshop so I could draw an arrow--she's in the tree to the left, on the branch that goes the most vertical...it gives you an idea of just how high she was.

The hook and ladder truck arrive behind our house!

(And the stereotype is kinda true--some of those firemen were cu-ute!)

The ladder making its way to the tree.

On a mission!

Of course once the Cat Man got close, Percy went out further the other way on the opposing branch, and they had to shift the ladder again!

The Cat Man reaches out w/ his fancy Cat Grabbing Tool!

Gotcha, little stinker!

And here she is, Persephone, herself. a little ragged around the edges, but pretty good, I'd say, considering!

The firefighters were in a pretty jovial mood through the whole thing, really nice guys. We all gave the Cat Man and his assistant a big standing ovation when the deed was done. They wouldn't even take the tip Mr. Tea tried to give them. The Cat Man said it was definitely the highest he'd ever been for a rescue! Thank you ASPCA, and Squirt 9, Ladder 21!