We had an interesting event today and I share it with you to give you hope if this ever happens to you!

My oldest son’s cat, Foster, climbed a 50 foot tree in the woods sometime BEFORE the yesterday morning.  My ‘genius’ (not kidding) brother-in-law was here and all of us were trying to figure out how to get her down.  We tried luring her down with food, etc. but to no avail.  Oldest son stood on a ladder and shook it but she hung on tightly.  We reluctantly left her in the tree overnight.  All the time she was crying for help. Neighbors even came out looking for what it was.  An arborist quoted us $300 to get her down (without seeing the situation).  Firemen said she would eventually climb down.  However, there were no branches to climb to except the ones she was on.

This morning after calling Humane Society, Animal Control and the Animal Hospital AND doing research on the Internet we decided we’d try shaking the tree again.  We were encouraged by the following video where a cat fell 80 feet and lived -


We took a recriprocating saw (something like this - http://www.plumbersurplus.com/images/prod/5/Makita-JR3050T-rw-94628-161026.jpg ) and clippers and cleared a 10 foot circle around the tree down to the ground.  Made sure there were no stumps or twigs.

My younger son and daughter held a ‘crash pad’ (something to protect you as you climb rocks, etc. - like this http://chrisbenchetler.com/cb/images/stories/blog/Buttermilk_Bouldering/IMG_3673.jpg ) under where they thought he would fall.

I held a six foot ladder and oldest son stood on top of it and shook.  The cat must have been pretty tired because she lost her balance pretty quickly.  The first shake she started falling and was hanging.  The second shake she fell.  Her legs were spread out and she fell looking like a flying squirrel.

Younger son and daughter were right on the mark and caught her on the crash pad which they were holding about three feet tall.  Foster jumped off and ran the 200 yards to the house.

It was amazing!  We just wish we had it on video!