Can this kitten come down without help?

kitten - kitten crying for help
@polachicago (18716)
United States
July 5, 2008 11:52am CST
My heart is broken. Little black kitten is sitting on the top of the tree crying for help. It happened next to bank location. Local residents call fire department, but fire department refused to help. The tree is very, very tall. Kitten is sitting on very soft branch. I call at least 10 local numbers, humane society and local vets. They say that kitten can fall down on lower branch and eventually come down. This kitten is crying loud for help… I took many pictures, what can I do to help? Any ideas?
15 people like this
44 responses
@harubie (30)
• Singapore
5 Jul 08
Ah poor thing .... is it yours? why dont you call the fire dept or something... im sure they would help you
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
5 Jul 08
it is not mine....fire department said that they are not going to risk their life for cat....
1 person likes this
@piasabird (1737)
• United States
5 Jul 08
Harubie, did you not read where she said that she called the fire department and they said they wouldn't help?
1 person likes this
• Singapore
6 Jul 08
Oh sorry i must have missed that part .... well its been a few hours now, is the cat ok? Is it still up there?
@hiddenwing (3719)
• China
6 Jul 08
I worry about the kitten too. In fact, to tell u the truth, cats have nine chances to live. However, People just get one. Even if falling from a high place, it won't be hurt. Don't worry, god will bless the little cat.
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
6 Jul 08
I don't believe in 9 chances, but kitten is probably fine by now...
@zeloguy (4911)
• United States
5 Jul 08
I hate to say it but I think you have done up and above what most people would do. One thing... cats CAN climb down from trees they just get for lack of a better term 'afraid of heights'. Has anyone put out a bowl of milk to entice the kitty down the tree? Thanks Zelo
1 person likes this
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
6 Jul 08
I saw bowl with milk next to the tree.... I have to drive and see what is going on....
1 person likes this
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
6 Jul 08
Kitten is still there... Local residents keep food next to the tree....
@zeloguy (4911)
• United States
6 Jul 08
Well be sure to keep us all updated as best you can. Thanks Zelo
• India
6 Jul 08
Pola, where are you? It is sixteen hours since you posted this discussion, and I notice you haven't commented on the latest responses. I am waiting eagerly to know what has happened to the poor creature. As far as I know, cats descend on their own. My Peter was chasing a lizard on the terrace and jumped down from the top of the house to the ground below. We were terrified, thought he had broken a bone or something. But, he was just stunned. He steered clear of the terrace for a few days though. I really hope someone has helped this kitten. I am surprised nobody has come to its rescue so far. Cheers and happy mylotting
1 person likes this
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
7 Jul 08
Thank you for nice support.... HUGS
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
6 Jul 08
kitten is done by now, probably managed to come down during the night....
1 person likes this
• India
7 Jul 08
I am really happy to hear that Pola. I was feeling so sorry for the little fella... so she is fine now... and that ends well! :) Cheers and happy mylotting
@Tianna2 (1273)
• United States
6 Jul 08
Ahhh, poor kitty! Its been my experiance that cats will eventually find there way down, I had a cat that was always getting stuck in a tree next to a house and I would open the upstairs window to let him in. After doing this a few times I just let her stay there for a while, she did fing her way down and never went up there again. I'm sure this kitten will be fine once its starts figuring that no one can get up there to save it, it will find its way down. Cheers, Tianna
2 people like this
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
6 Jul 08
yes, kitten is down....I am happy...
@TheCatLady (4691)
• Israel
5 Jul 08
Call a tree trimmer and explain the situation. Tell him you want him to get the cat down from the tree. It shouldn't be too expensive as he won't be trimming the tree, just going up to get the cat. You will need a cage to put the cat in so you can take it home. Will you keep kitty or rehome it?
@piasabird (1737)
• United States
5 Jul 08
A friend of mine climbed a tree to get a stray cat down. It scratched him and gave him blood poisoning and he ended up in the hospital. I would be very careful.
2 people like this
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
6 Jul 08
it is not my kitten, I just try to help. they contact me from human society and told me that kitten will eventually come down when hungry....
1 person likes this
6 Jul 08
Suppose there is nothing you can do now, do not so sad and worry too much, take care yourself well and pray for poor little things.
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
6 Jul 08
Well I really hope that the Kitten got down safe and sound, I think it is awful that none of them came out to help as Kittens are not that strong yet like an Adult Cat would have known what to do but not a Kitten I really hope that it got down ok
1 person likes this
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
6 Jul 08
yes, kitten is down. I don't know how, because I am at about 4 miles away....I will know by Monday...
@kbkbooks (7022)
• Canada
6 Jul 08
A couple years ago I bought a kitten, only two months old, and the first thing he did when I put him down on the ground was climb up probably the tallest tree in the neighborhood. Like you I tried the animal control people, the police, the fire department and vets, all without success. Skoooter seemed to be quite unconcerned about his situation. Eventually we borrowed a very long extension ladder from the neighbors, but when we put it up to him he skoooted even farther up the tree out of reach. We couldn't even reach anything up to touch him, neither stick nor broom nor shovel. All I'm thinking is he's going to get very cold at night and be very hungry soon. Like you heard, our animal control people also said they never heard of cat skeletons in trees. Sounds funny now, but at the time I just thought it was rude of them to be so nonchalant. Anyway, after about an hour or so in the top branches, Skoooter ventured out onto a limb, and you know how limbs get thinner at the end. He was out about four feet on one of those types of branches, when all of a sudden SNAP! Skoooter and the branch came down very fast from about thirty feet up. Fortunately there were many years of fallen leaves under this tree so he had a soft landing. This experience never stopped him from climbing. In fact to this day he loves to run and climb trees. It wasn't long before he learned how to get down properly by himself. He never got down by falling again, after that one time. We named him Skoooter after that incident because he runs and scampers everywhere without thinking. He has lived up to it ever since.
1 person likes this
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
6 Jul 08
Thank you for your story. My cat is almost two years old, but she is indoor only, so I don't have any experience with outdoor kittens.... Kitten is down by now...
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
6 Jul 08
Kittens can get down. Don't worry about it. If you try or someone else tries to climb the tree the kitten will climb higher or jump down to the lower branch. The one trying to get it will fall off the ladder that will sway and will probably be killed. So the ones in danger is the ones trying to rescue it, or else the firemen would go and get a ladder themselves and someone else's house will burn down in the meantime.
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
7 Jul 08
probably you are right, I have no experience with kittens on the top of the tree calling for help...
@gantwick (849)
• United States
5 Jul 08
Can you climb the tree to get it? Even if you get to some branches that aren't as high, the kitten may understand that you are trying to help and try to come down a little. Be sure to have a towel or a blanket to wrap it in, in case it starts to panic (I've done this before - and as trusting as the kitten may be, it still is nervous, so the blanket or towel or sweater or whatever, really helps). I imagine once others see you trying to help, there will be others who may pitch in to help as well. I know I would.
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
5 Jul 08
This is the tallest tree in town, no way to get there without help....I am not able to.... It is probably someones kitten, or wild one.... I took this picture with 300 zoom....... No way anyone other than fire department to get on the tree....
1 person likes this
@gantwick (849)
• United States
5 Jul 08
Well, as others have already said, it will eventually get down unharmed. I had a cat once who was tormented by a squirrel who used to throw acorns at her. She chased the squirrel up the tree, but it got away. She leaped to the top of the house where we lived and yowled until I came outside. I went to get a ladder to get her down and by the time I got back, she had climbed to the peak of the roof and was yowling louder. I climbed the ladder and she was gone. I looked all over the roof, calling out, "Freckles! I'm here, Freckles!" When I finally "found" her, she was on the ground meowing at me, as if to say, "What are you doing up there, you silly human? I'm hungry!" The next time she got "stuck" in a tree, I ignored her (the neighbors thought I was being mean at first). Although she looked like a frail, delicate little thing, she had an amazing climbing and leaping ability, which she used when she thought nobody was watching. I'll bet this kitten will find that it, too, has some talents that it wasn't aware of yet.
@twallace (2675)
• United States
6 Jul 08
You mean to tell me the the fire department would not come and get the kitten out of the tree? Wow that is really mean, I always thought that they would do things like get cats out of the tree. I guess the tv gives them credit and they really don't do those things. I hope the kitten didn't fall out of the tree. Tell me that someone did something to help!!!
1 person likes this
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
6 Jul 08
Fire department said that they will not risk their lives for cat. They told this to me when I call. I was the 5th person who call. The tree is on bank parking lot and close to small apartment building. It is very close form very noisy and busy street. Many people where looking at the cat and walking away. All agencies working for animals didn't give me any ideas how to help....
@twallace (2675)
• United States
8 Jul 08
I always thought that the Fire department did those kind of things but now finding out that they don't. So did the kitten come down or it's own? Or did you call someone else?
@hopejordan (3561)
• Australia
6 Jul 08
hi there polachicago thats so sad about the kitten it had happened to my kitten last year he was climbling up the tree it was stuck and we had to call the fireman to get it down but we already got it down and the fireman came and said thats good i got it down he still goes up there now he knows how to get there take care happy postings
1 person likes this
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
6 Jul 08
it was wild kitten on bank parking lot, but ot is down by now...
@ellie333 (21016)
6 Jul 08
Lets hope the kitten is now down. I was goning to suggest putting food down but I see that has already been done. If still there today and hasn't managed to come down by itself I like a few others on here suggest going the radio station way to get help. Ellie :D
1 person likes this
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
6 Jul 08
yes, kitten is gone by now, so is bowl of food....
1 person likes this
@ellie333 (21016)
6 Jul 08
Oh That is good news, I am really pleased to hear that. Ellie :D
@fifileigh (3615)
• United States
7 Jul 08
i dont understand why fire department, police or humane society doesnt help...it is their job... maybe get together with some friends and bring a ladder and do it yourself...
1 person likes this
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
7 Jul 08
ladder wouldn't reach even 1/3 of the tree.......
@eden32 (3973)
• United States
6 Jul 08
I had a cat who got stuck in a tree twice years ago. If you help him down, he'll climb it again- or at least that was the opinion of my local fire department. After two days the cat did get down on his own. He did it again a few days later, and again took 2 days to get down but he did get down. Put some food at the base of the tree & be patient, he'll get down.
1 person likes this
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
6 Jul 08
the tree is about 4 miles from my home.... Local residents placed food next to the tree.... Kitten is gone by now....
• Argentina
6 Jul 08
Don't cats always land on their legs?You could just wait for the branch to break and then the kitten'd would land safely :s If not you could maybe put a mattress under the branch or something...i don't think anyone should complain about the mattress being there if there's no other way of saving the cat. I guess it's kind of a crazy idea tho D:
1 person likes this
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
6 Jul 08
maybe it is not crazy....the tree is on bank parking lot....and kitten is done by now...I am happy....
@newtondak (3946)
• United States
6 Jul 08
It is unbelievable that no one wants to help this poor kitten - especially the humane society and the veterinarians! Call your local TV or radio station and tell them what's happening - it will undoubtedly call attention to the situation and someone will become involved.
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
6 Jul 08
kitten is gone by now....I am happy.... hope kitten is safe...I am 4 miles away, hard for me to see what happened....must managed to come down during the night...
@Barbietre (1438)
• United States
6 Jul 08
Aw poor kitty, I can relate. We had a cat and when she was a kitten she went up our Mimosia tree all the time. Problem os the ends of the branches are very light, but lickily all it did was deposit her on our roof. And then she cried by our dormer window until we let her in. We could not bresk her of the habit, so we cut the offending branches. But they are resourceful and will learn how to get down. Ours was just spoiled.
1 person likes this
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
6 Jul 08
this kitten is probably OK now....I am happy....
6 Jul 08
Don't worry about the kitten she will come down, they are clever with there sharp claws to hold in the bark of trees,if she can go up ,she can come down.I have expierence with my kittens they can climb and quickly come down no trouble...
1 person likes this
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
6 Jul 08
that one was there for over 24 hours....maybe fireworks scared him away....
@wangth89 (47)
• China
6 Jul 08
Yoou can call the policeman or fireman for help!
1 person likes this
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
6 Jul 08
they help only on movies....no...they refused to help....