Cat in a Tree on Animal Planet

D

Dan_Kraus

Location
Seattle
Just spent all day Saturday filming with Animal Planet. Next fall they're doing a show on cats called "Must Love Cats". They wanted to do something on cat in a tree rescue. I shot a rescue with them, went to interview a family I had done a rescue for in the past, then took their host John Fulton up a tree.
It should be good, the rescue went well. I footlocked right to the cat, forgot to lanyard in before grabing the cat though (DQ)
Set up two lines in a Cedar for the climbing lesson and had him bodythrust up old school style to the branches, that was funny,with all the streach in the rope he only went up a inch at a time, he's a funny guy and made lots of jokes on his way up.
 
Looking forward to seeing it.

Thanks again for setting up you website for rescues. I've gotten calls, which time to time lead to tree work as well.
 
Awesome Dan...
... that is very cool, AP is one of our favorite channels.
The family and I will keep watch for your show, man that is so cool.
Dude you must be so proud, I'm proud of you too, except for the DQ part
smile.gif
 
Dan,

I'm on your site as well.

Little story about a cat rescue that got difficult and the cat owner's spendy solution.

"Pumpkin", an orange Tabby was about 40' up an 80'-90' Douglas Fir. Sounds too easy.

But Pumpkin did not want to be rescued.

Everytime I got within 6' or so, he would hiss, snarl, pee on me, then charge 10' futher up the tree. I had a can of sardines and a packet of his favourite snacks with me as lures, all to no avail. But this was not my first cat reacue, I've been there before, at some point the cat becomes familiar with the game, runs out of tree and you can get your hands on it and put it in the "rescue bag".

Not Pumpkin. I learned later that the owner ran a small cat shelter and that Pumpkin was an only partially rehabbed feral cat. Trust of Humans still very limited.

We got up onto wood too small to really trust. I had my lifeline tied lower on some stout stuff, so if the top broke, I'd be safe, the top would land on the driveway...but what of Pumpkin? This is not safe tree work, it's get cat to safety work. Right about then some gusting winds came up. I was just within reach of Pumpkin but every time I put a hand out for him to sniff, he backed off onto mere twigs that I was afraid would break even under his small weight.

I even briefly considered cutting the wee top he was on and pulling him in to me, but his behavior was such that I felt he might just make one final leap for freedom...

The wind was getting worse, I felt I was now jeopardizing the cat. Dejected, I descended. "I'm so sorry, all I've done is chase your cat higher up the tree, we'll let the wind die a bit, let me put together something and I will try again."

Cat owner had another idea. He worked in construction, had a good contact at LBC Crane Rentals. I've used them on removals, excellent outfit. He calls, they have a crane just coming off a job a half an hour away.

Crane arrives, I swap my saddle for a fall arrest, LBC hooks me into a man basket and drops me down ontop of the now very confused little Pumpkin. With a very accomplished crane opperator at the controls, Pumpkin was in the basket with me in mere moments.

Owner cut a check to LBC Crane, paid me more than I requested, all for a feline that was a borderline project to start with.

Yes, some of us "Must Love Cats".

Some pics below of that day.

http://members.shaw.ca/esegec/thatclimber/pumpkin/Pumpkin-Rescue-NC.html


Northwind
 
Can't wait to see it. Keep us updated!

I just did a cat rescue last month (40' up an ivy-covered non-de-fronded 70' Washingtonia robusta palm tree). SRT'd up, had to literally dig through the ivy foot by foot to find the cat. Cat found me first and jumped over 40' feet to the concrete! Owners got her back right away, took he to the vet and not a scratch on her!

Now the guy wants me to come up with a pruning cycle and work plant for the 50 trees at the hospital for which he is the grounds manager!

Regardless of the business leads, it's a great site and I'm proud to be part of it...even at 9pm when most of the cat calls come in!

love
nick
 
Wow Northwind that is one heck of a cat rescue story, most love cats is right. Animal Planet would of ate that up.
The show won't come out till the fall so just enough time to forget about it.
I'm just hoping I don't look to goofy in the interviews, I've also thought of a few more safety violations I allowed to happen. I'm sure everyone here will have good sport in finding them and pointing them out.
 
I've had a few climb to the small wood cats.

I fashioned a wire basket on the end of a push broom, hoisted it overhead, kitty got in to the basket which had a towel on the bottom to make it look less exposed, more inviting. I lowered the pole/ basket combo (with a little help from a rope through a small overheads (cat's and mine) crotch, down to me. Backpack ride time!
 
We'll be watching for that broadcast!

Did another cat rescue of the kitty in my avatar. This time he was on the stem of a snagged pin oak covered in poison ivy. Got to him and he was very cooperative. He'd been in the tree for 24 hrs overnight so there was no problem picking him up and setting him in a basket to lower to the ground and awaiting owner.

Gotta love them rescues!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

New threads New posts

Back
Top Bottom