Oh Crumbs! Terrified Cat Rhubarb Saved In Dramatic Tree Rescue!

A terrified cat has been rescued from a tree in Nantymoel, near Bridgend, after joint action from RSPCA Cymru and South Wales Fire & Rescue Service. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Rhubarb became trapped around 20 feet up a tree on Wednesday (12 October). Though the cat was in good health and responsive, he appeared both rigid and scared and was hardly moving. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

There were further concerns about the welfare of the cat, due to the speed of winds, meaning the top of the tree – where the cat was located – swayed from side to side. Branches on the tree were thin and unstable, restricting the cat’s ability to get down, as he called out in distress. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

RSPCA Cymru attended the scene after a call from the cat’s owners. Rescue attempts were initially thwarted due to the unstable nature of the tree – so the fire and rescue service were called, and were able to bring the cat to safety by sawing away branches, and attaching rope to the tree to pull him onto a neighbouring shed roof. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Nicole Wallace, RSPCA animal collection officer, said: “Approximately 20 foot off the ground, and with the wind picking up, poor Rhubarb got himself into a right pickle! “It was a tricky rescue, and Rhubarb was clearly in distress. He was very still and seemed terrified – so, goodness knows how he got himself into such a precarious situation! ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This rescue emphasises the importance of joint-working to support animal welfare. By working with South Wales Fire & Rescue Service, we were able to bring the cat back to safety. Fortunately, Rhubarb is now doing well with his family after this ordeal!” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​