Princess

Summer is the slow season for cat-in-tree rescues here in the deep South, but this year has been exceptionally slow. The last rescue I did was just over a month ago, though I did get a few calls recently for cats who came down on their own, including one who came down during the phone call and another who came down after I arrived. Going for a long time without a rescue to do makes me feel useless, but Princess, a two-and-a-half-year-old Calico in Watson, Louisiana, came to my rescue and made me feel useful again. Princess was not happy being stuck near the top of a Tallow tree for two nights, and Laura, her human mama, was stressed and very worried about her. While I don't wish that misery upon them, I was actually quite happy to get back in the saddle again.

Princess is a sweet girl, and she gave me a reasonably warm welcome once I climbed up to her, but, while she seemed to enjoy having some company up in the tree with her, she didn't appear to understand that I might be useful to her for getting back down to the ground. Maybe she thought I was now stuck in the tree too. Whatever it was, she didn't make any effort to come toward me or step into the carrier I held up to her. She was above my head, and I could not make a lap for her, so I reluctantly prepared the cat bag on my arm. I hate to scruff a sweet cat, but I could not think of any other gentle way in this situation to secure her for the trip down to the ground. She handled it without complaint and settled quietly into the bag, and I took her down. She is safe inside her house now and feeling great, and I am hoping I don't have to wait another month for the next rescue to do.