Steve

I was on my way to rescue Simon when I got a call about another cat, Steve, who was stuck in a tree in Denham Springs, Louisiana. When I asked about Steve's disposition toward strangers, I was told that he doesn't like people. That's not what I like to hear, and it sounded like he would be a very uncooperative cat to rescue. My expectation for a difficult rescue, however, turned out to be mistaken.

Steve is a six-year-old, inside-only cat who escaped and climbed a tree immediately next to his house. He was about 25 feet high and had been stuck there for one night. When I began to climb up to him, he didn't act like a cat who hated people. In fact, he seemed to be very happy to see me coming toward him. The closer I got, the more he rubbed his head against the tree, and the sweeter he looked. He sniffed my hand, let me pet him, rubbed his head against the tree some more, and pushed his head into my hand for some more pets. This cat is not acting like a cat who hates people, and I could not have been more pleased and relieved.

A cat this sweet will probably step on my lap, so I got myself into position, spread the bottom of the cat bag over my lap, and, as if on cue, Steve stepped onto my lap. He had only his front legs on my lap, and then he stepped back onto the limb. As expected, he came back, and this time, he placed all four legs on my lap. When I began to pull the bag up around him, he decided to step back on the limb again. I wasn't worried. I knew he would be back, and, sure enough, he came back, stepped on my lap, and, this time, he plopped his whole body down on my lap as if he was planning to stay for a long time. I pulled the bag up around him and brought him down.

It's always fun to have an easy rescue for a sweet, cooperative cat, but having two in the same day is even better. I had just enjoyed an easy, sweet rescue for Simon earlier that morning, so I felt especially lucky to have two easy, sweet rescues in the same day.