Community Comes Together To Save Missing Cat Found Stuck In Tree

NORTH FORK, NY — A missing cat who found himself stuck in a tree was rescued this week when a caring North Fork community came together to help.

Laura Bohn of Mattituck said her cat Max didn't come home last Sunday night, and by Monday morning, she knew there was a problem when she couldn't find him.

"I left work early Monday night, and walked around shaking a bag of food," she said.

Eventually, she found Max on her neighbor's property, stuck in a tree.

"We tried everything, to no avail," she said. Bohn stayed home, made numerous calls, and was running back and forth to check on him.

"He kept meowing. I could hear him, but I couldn't help him," she said.

Gabrielle Stroup, director of operations at the League, suggested calling Hugo Palencia of Palencia Landscaping and Tree Service, she said.

"I was near hysteria," Bohn said. "The guy showed up with an hour of daylight left. In the five minutes I left the scene to get a warmer jacket, he got him down. The cat ran past me, as I was running down the driveway. I scooped him up and put him in the house," she said.

Bohn sent heartfelt thanks to Palencia, his helper, to all those that showed up for support, and "to everyone that prayed so hard, because I asked them to," she said. "Max ate a huge dinner, and is purring up a storm. Max will never go outside unless he's on a leash again. Sometimes you get a win."