[Search for users] [Overall Top Noters] [List of all Conferences] [Download this site]

Conference misery::feline_v1

Title:	Meower Power is Valuing Differences
Notice:	FELINE_V1 is moving 1/11/94 5pm PST to MISERY
Moderator:	MISERY::VANZUYLEN_RO

Created:	Sun Feb 09 1986
Last Modified:	Tue Jan 11 1994
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	5089
Total number of notes:	60366

4737.0. "Kitten up a tree now safe " by CUPMK::PHILBROOK (Customer Publications Consulting) Tue Jun 18 1991 22:23

    I had to share this experience I had today. I went to the Humane
    Society at lunchtime today and as I was leaving I heard a kitten crying
    but couldn't see one anywhere. It was then that I noticed a kitten
    sitting on a branch in a pine tree about 40 feet up! He couldn't have
    been more than 8 weeks old.
    
    I tried to coax him down but he wasn't budging -- just mewing. I let
    the Director know he was up there and she surmised he must have crawled
    out of the box full of kittens left at our doorstep early this morning
    and climbed the tree. Experience tells us that cats do come down out of
    trees when they're good and ready so I left for work.
    
    Tonight we had our Board meeting at the shelter and we all stood out in
    the parking lot chatting after the meeting. Hal told me that he looked
    for the kitten later in the day and saw that he'd come down and assumed
    that Michele had taken care of him. We were chatting about how relieved
    we were and I was about to go back inside to see the little fella when
    we all heard the crying again. I looked up and sure enough, there he
    was still 40 or 50 feet up in the pine tree.
    
    I was bound and determined to get him down one way or another before I
    went home because I couldn't leave that little guy up there all night
    alone -- what if he got brave enough to come down after dark and was
    scoffed up by an opossum or fox. I had to get him down.
    
    I tried calling him and coaxing him to come down and after 10 minutes
    of this decided I would go inside and get a ladder. The tallest ladder
    the shelter owns is only about a 12 footer so I knew I had a job ahead
    of me. Just then I saw him change positions -- it really looked as if
    he wanted to come down but was afraid to move. So I decided to try a
    little more coaxing. I kept this up (and drew a crowd of 6 in the
    process) for about 20 minutes when the little guy finally started to
    crawl down backwards. I kept up the pace and he took short little steps
    and eventually made it close enough for me to reach out and grab
    him. I was never so relieved and happy!
    
    He's the cutest little thing -- a little tiger. He was so frightened
    but the way he looked into my eyes I couldn't help but think that he
    was grateful to me for coaxing him down. I brought him inside and set
    him up in a cage with fresh litter, food and water. After a couple
    minutes he began to eat, I shut out the light and left. Whew!
    
    This may not seem like much of a story to y'all, but I can't tell you
    what it did for me! I'm just so glad he's safe now.
    
    Cheers,
    Mike

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
4737.1	I was glad I witnessed that rescue	DEMON::MURPHY		`Wed Jun 19 1991 10:09`	13
	Well, Mike. I was one of the small crowd watching and I must say you certainly handled it beautifully. I couldn't leave either until I knew the little guy was safely down. He was soooo smart though to back down like he did and your coaxing him sure gave him the courage. I had just left the vet's office with two of my cats when I noticed what was happening. Congratulations on a job well done. I hope that brave little guy gets adopted soon, along with the others. Pat, Holly, D.P., Thai, Buffy, Jamie, Midnight, Dandy (& Cookie)
4737.2	I love these kinda stories!	MCIS2::HUSSIAN	But my cats ARE my kids!!	`Wed Jun 19 1991 11:53`	5
	What a HERO, you are, Mike! You must feel like a million bucks today! :*) Bonnie
4737.3		TPMARY::TAMIR	ACMS design while-u-wait	`Wed Jun 19 1991 12:29`	11
	A while ago, the dog next door scared one of my feral babies up a huge tree in my yard. I was up half the night trying to coax her down. She had just begun to trust me and let me pet her, so I was hoping she'd let me try to rescue her. No such luck; she only climbed higher, meowing her head off. I grew more and more weary and finally about 3:00 a.m., I fell asleep on the chaise lounge on my deck, huddled under a blanket, just in case I heard some commotion. I woke a few hours later to the sounds of birds chirping and this little kitten was curled up on the blanket with me... You may have heard me talk about this little baby before...her name is Robin.... Mary
4737.4		WILLEE::MERRITT		`Wed Jun 19 1991 13:06`	4
	Your so so good for helping the little baby down. Pat on the back for a job well done!!!!! Sandy
4737.5	Way to go!	ICS::ANDERSON_M		`Wed Jun 19 1991 16:53`	11
	You made my day! Just when I can't stand it anymore - tired of hearing people bickering, complaining and griping I get in this notesfile and read about something like this. Way to go!!! Marilyn, Otis and Tiffany
4737.6	HOORAY FOR MIKE!	CANYON::WARKMEISTER		`Wed Jun 19 1991 19:44`	7
	Mike, I really enjoyed your story ... what a happy ending! Thank goodness, Julie + Heather kitty
4737.7		CRUISE::NDC	Putiput Scottish Folds DTN:297-2313	`Thu Jun 20 1991 10:07`	6
	Miracles do happen. :^) I guess we have to make them happen. Thanks Mike. That put a smile on my face for the day!!
4737.8		CUPMK::PHILBROOK	Customer Publications Consulting	`Thu Jun 20 1991 11:33`	17
	Thanks for all the pats, everyone! I honestly didn't need any recognition because the incident made me feel so good, but I knew the Feliners would appreciate the story. Pat -- I didn't know that was you that night! I'm just glad the little guy is safe -- I could just imagine what might have happened had we not noticed he was still in the tree before we went home that night. I just wish I could adopt him but my dogs are cat haters, unfortunately, and it wouldn't be fair. One of the Board members dubbed the little guy "Climber". I hope Climber gets a good home (and I'll bet he stays out of trees for a while!) Thanks again for all the support, Mike
4737.9	as in, "Robin Red Breast"	MCIS2::HUSSIAN	But my cats ARE my kids!!	`Thu Jun 20 1991 12:19`	7
	re:.3.....Mary, How appropriate!! A tree climbing, bird brained kitty, named ROBIN!! Cute story....:) Bonnie
4737.10	Taking a room at the vet's	MEDDOC::MURPHY		`Thu Jun 20 1991 13:06`	5
	.8 Yup, it was me. Seems like I spend a good part of my time at the vets lately getting mine updated on shots, etc. Pat, Holly, Buffy, D.P., Thai, Jamie, Midnight, Dandy (& Cookie)
4737.11		CUPMK::PHILBROOK	Customer Publications Consulting	`Thu Jun 20 1991 14:03`	6
	I went to the shelter at lunch today to check on little "Climber". Turns out she's a female, 3 months old and she tested negative for FeLeuk! She's in quarantine for now but should be going up for adoption soon. Mike