There are millions of domesticated cats uncountable feral cats prowling around the Southwest. Many men do not care for cats at all; my dad was one, although I’m not sure why. But there are folks who adore and worship their feline pets and have a real soft spot for all cats, even feral ones.
If you like helping people and animals, enjoy some free publicity and make a few extra dollars, cat rescue might be for you. Photo courtesy: Dan Kraus, catinatreerescue.com.
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Cats like to climb and occasionally they will climb high into trees where well intentioned folks feel that they need rescuing. Fire departments across the country are abandoning the practice of sending trucks and crews out to save cats and have policies in place to prevent their employees from going out on those calls.
There are risks involved with trying to chase a cat around in a tree and aerial lifts are limited. No firefighter should climb in trees, they don’t have the equipment and practice for tree climbing. Tree workers do, though.
Believe it or not, there are countless tree companies who do not have a cat rescue program. Maybe it’s those hairy legs, maybe it’s the timing. You get the call at 4:30 on a Friday afternoon, right? The cat lover’s call is never returned…or more likely, the receptionist says the same thing I told my wife long ago, “It’ll come down, have you ever seen a cat skeleton in a tree?”
Fire departments say the same thing and most animal rescue outfits do, too. The caller’s request is politely refused and they’re instructed to stay out of the tree, put out food and water, and wait for Fluffy to get desperate and come down.
Are cats afraid of heights? Well, yeah sometimes. Allegedly even pigeons get scared of heights and can be caught by hand on tall observation decks.
Kittens who are less strong and less confident of their skill are often the ones most likely to elicit a rescue. A home owner gets worried, starts calling the government, then various animal organizations, and finally all the tree companies. Refuse ‘em or help ‘em, it is up to you.
You’ll probably never see a cat skeleton in a tree, but that kitten can suffer from heat, thirst and hunger. After days, Kittie may weaken, slip and fall, or try to jump from the tree and be injured or die because it climbed too high.
If you like helping desperate people, if you want to reduce animal suffering, if you would like some free TV or newspaper advertising, or if you want to make a few extra bucks, then become a cat rescuer. There is a web site started by champion tree climber Dan Kraus, www.catinatreerescue.com, which registers climbers willing to perform cat rescues.
Next month, we’ll cover some tips and techniques for performing rescues.
Juan Barba is a consulting arborist in Tucson, AZ. He is the president of Juan J. Barba & Associates and serves on the board of directors for the Western Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. Barba can be reached at 520.622.6938 or e-mail juanbarba@earthlink.net.
