My 1st cat rescue

[jodystreeserv3]

I had my first cat rescue today. What a blast! I had to put the cat in one of my rope boss bags with the draw string. I know Tom said he has a laundry bag and a long leather glove. Cut a hole in the bottom of the bag and sew it to the glove so you can grab the cat and pull the bag over. Just wondering what you guys use?

 

[treehumper]

the owner's cat carrier with something the cat uses to sleep on. Works like a charm.

 

[countryboypa31]

Great Job, they are fun! I've only done one, but i always thought of using the owners cat carrier too, with food at the back.

 

[Blinky]

Pillow case. Grab the bottom, pull it over your arm, scruff the cat really tight and pull the pillowcase back down around the kitty. Works every time.

 

[rfwoodvt]

Doing a squirrel recovery today. Large Quercus rubra split co-doms with a hollow and squirrel's nest in the crotch.

Squirrel has been sitting there for a week, tail flapping in the breeze. Nearest we can figure is the critter was climbing into it's nest as the wind opened the crack and then closed on the tree rat!

Suspect we'll find a nest full of starved younguns as well.

 

[altissimus]

.... did it once ... was prepared to be scratched or bitten .... small duffel and a can of food ....didn't even need the food ... cat came right to me for rescue ... most gratifying....

 

[Blinky]

Recovered two baby squirrels last week. Cut out the section that held the nest and placed it in front of the stump, put the babies back in... momma squirrel picked'em up an hour later.

BTW Andrew. I forgot to say Congratulations! Welcome to the Feline Fetcher's Club. You signed up with www.catinatreerescue.com?

 

[southsoundtree]

I've gotten a lot of work through cat rescues, maybe 1/3 of rescues turns into jobs.

I spent a couple hours on an day "off" calling vets in the yellow pages, and the fire stations letting them know about the service availability.

If I get a call that is too far away, or I can't get away from the job at hand, I first refer to a friend, then www.catinatreerescue.com.

Good work on the rescue.

 

[rfwoodvt]

Yup, momma tree-rat got the queeze. the nest slid down into the cavity farther as the wind opened and closed the gap. She got stuck, it looks like, trying to grab the babies.

3 little ones froze solid.

I have no love for tree rats, but hate seeing young'uns die unnecessarily just the same.

 

[NickfromWI]

I have a thin blue backpack with a blue atlas glove sewn to the inside. Coaxing the cat to within reach can be a trying experience, but once they are within reach I like the sticky glove so I can hold on tight while I wrap the bag around. I've never really had them fight me yet. I think they just know that something isn't right and I'm there to help out or something.

One of my rules is to never lunge for the cat while in a tree. Let it come to me. I don't want it to think I'm chasing it and it needs to run.

I'll keep the cat-carrier idea in mind.

I've got plans (but keep delaying it) to call the local firestations, SPCA offices and vet clinics.

love
nick

 

[southsoundtree]

Cat Rescue tip for you all for that hard to reach cat. Well, two. A large fishing net. Had to use that one once for a cat at the tip of a western red cedar when a storm was coming in. Cat had been up for a couple of days. Repeat offender. Sounds easy. It isn't because half of the cat is on each side of the leader. The cat was standing on the top most laterals, maybe it was second to the top laterals.

That cat rescue was when my idea was hatched.



Unfortunately, the cat owner hasn't sent me the pics, and my camera was not with me at the time to show the set-up.

I had a cat recently that was in the top of a horrible willow tree. I couldn't climb higher, so I descended after maybe 30-40 minutes. The cat was trying to reposition, and was slipping all over and about to fall a time or two.

I decided to go back up. I had left a piece of the homeowner's rope in the crotch that I was using for a TIP. I was able to get a wire storage bin about 2'x1'x1' strapped to a sturdy push broom. I put a towel in the bottom, so it looked solid for the cat to climb into. Now a 14 pound or more cat in the 1 pound basket balanced on a 2 pound broom handle that is 6' long, held at arm's reach overhead is not easy to hold or manuever. I had a rope attached to the basket, and was able to natural crotch rig the rope in a crotch right near the cat. The rope helped to steady the basket, and control it down once the cat was in the basket.

I use the wire bin now for an organizing bin in the truck, so I have it with me. Now I need to figure out how to make the Jameson pole from the big shot work with the basket in a very sturdy way, and I'm be set.

I kinda forgot about this. I'll see if I get a good set-up with the BS pole and get a picture. It could be useful. Maybe suspending the bin from the pole tip would be good, as it can auto level if you are having to reach sideways, and then you could actually swing it below you once you have the cat, if need be, like if its a behemoth cat. I bet even a large cat would fit in a regular milk crate. The bin was a little large.

If only there was a way to have a spring loaded door close over the cat once its in the basket, that would be sweet. Ideas?