Happy Ending: Cat Stuck In Tree For 5 Days Rescued Safely

GREENPORT, NY — A cat stuck in a tree in Greenport for more than 5 days has lots of lives left — he was rescued safely Tuesday.

According to the North Fork Animal Welfare League, "The cat in the tree has been rescued!"

Thanks to Shamrock Tree Company who met the North Fork Animal Welfare League's staff onsite, the ear-tipped feline who is part of a local community cat colony, is safely out of the tree, NFAWL's Gabrielle Stroup said.

"The cat started going up the tree once more, the wrong way, but quickly turned around and scampered down the tree. We had a safety net of soft blankets on standby. Luckily, that was not necessary. It's a very joyful happily-ever-after for the cat and everyone involved," she said.

The cat, Stroup said, appeared to be in good shape and took off, heading home.

According to Mattituck's Jonathan Shipman, owner of Shamrock Tree Company, "After getting a call at the office I went out to take a look at the tree to determine if I could get to it with my bucket truck. The tree was easily accessible from the street so I returned with the truck," he said.

Next, Shipman said he went up in the bucket planning on going higher than the cat and hoping to scare it downward.

"I brought along a large net in case the cat tried to run up the branch to get higher," he said. "The cat did, in fact, begin downward, then jumped to the other leader. It was unable to grasp the bark and fell to the ground. At which point it ran away unscathed. If I had to guess the fall was near 20'."

He added, "It felt good to be able to help, especially at this time of year."

"It's a miracle," said neighbor Debbie Hooper, who has tried desperately for days to save the cat. "I'm crying tears of joy."

An ear-tipped cat, Stroup said, is part of a colony and when it is spayed or neutered, the ears are tipped so they don't get trapped again.

The cat captured the hearts of the community who were desperate to help.

According to Hooper, who lives on Bailey Avenue, on Monday the cat had been stuck in the tree for "going on 5 days."

The Southold Town Highway Department responded Friday with a bucket truck but the cat only ran further up the tree, she said.

"It only has a few more lives left," she said Monday. "It cries but is scared to move. I feel so badly."

Before the rescue Tuesday, Hooper said she still heard the cat's cries.

According to Southold Town Highway Superintendent Vincent Orlando, the highway department went to "do its good deed for the day" but the town employee in the bucket truck couldn't reach the cat Friday.

On Monday, the highway department was back but the cat was still too high up in the tree to be reached, Orlando said.

The highway department, in conjunction with the North Fork Animal Welfare League, came up with "Plan Z", Orlando said, to place food on the lower branches of the tree and then, also place food on the roof or gutter of the nearby house, hoping the cat will descend, making it easier for rescuers to reach the feline escape artist.

"If the cat ever comes down, its name will be Miracle," Hooper said Monday.

Patch photos courtesy Debbie Hooper and North Fork Animal Welfare League.