A cat which has driven a whole town crazy after being stuck in a tree for four days has finally been rescued.
Cookie has been reunited with her owner at last after dozens of attempts by residents in Tredegar, Wales, to catch her using fishing nets, treats, cherry pickers and even a four-storey scaffold platform.
But finally two local tree surgeon companies joined forces in the valiant community effort – and this time, succeeded.
Leanne Skinner, who was the first to spot the animal in the tree, said: ‘They scaled up the tree opposite the cat and tried to swing to the cat’s tree. They cut branches off the tree above where the cat was so she couldn’t go any further up.
The 36-year-old mum, concerned about Cookie falling from the tree, ran back to her house to get a bed sheet and hold it underneath the tree just in case the cat fell.
‘The next thing we knew, the tree surgeon had made a grab, caught her and put her in his kit bag and was lowering her down,’ she added.
‘You could hear she was very scared and she was scrabbling trying to get out of the bag.
‘We decided to keep her in the bag for a while to calm her down and I cwtched her into me. I could feel her rest her head on my hand. We then took her into the back of one of the vans where we were able to transfer her to the cat box.
‘We were all so happy and relieved that she was done. I think a few people actually cried. Cookie is now back with her owner, who was quite emotional getting her back.
‘When Covid-19 is over I am getting my cwtch!’
The four days of drama started on Saturday when resident Leanne heard a cat crying from somewhere and couldn’t see it – then realised it was stuck up a 40ft tree.
After fruitless attempts to get the cat down by the RSPCA and the South Wales Fire Service, the community started to get involved with fish nets, treats and cherry pickers after they saw Leanne’s pleas for help on Facebook.
‘I just can’t believe the reaction this has had. Who would have thought a little Facebook status would lead to all this?’ said Leanne, who lives with husband Mark and son Alfie, 6.
‘The whole of Tredegar has rallied round and seems to be behind this cat.’
A local scaffolding company got involved and built a four-storey structure to get to her on Monday, but even that was proving a challenge.
She later told Metro.co.uk: ‘The most ridiculous thing about this is I’m not even a cat person – I have a dog.
‘But I definitely want a cwtch when it comes down, after all this. I just hope I’m there when it happens and I don’t miss it!’
But Cookie is now back in her owner’s arms, who was relieved to find she hadn’t gone missing permanently.
Part-time teacher Leanne has also set up a JustGiving page to raise money to reimburse the companies which helped rescue Cookie, including Ron Skinner and Sons, Smartsigns Tredegar, AP Scaffolding, Priceys Removals, Lee Symes Tree Services and Tredegar Fire Station.
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