Tangera, Unknown, and Tiger

Cats have been busy lately, and this rather lazy year has ended with a burst of activity including these three rescues in three days. First is Tangera, a sweet, but shy, six-month-old tortie who slipped outside and climbed a Sweetgum tree in her front yard in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She was not comfortable with me in the tree with her despite my reassurances, and she slowly and quietly made moves to climb up higher in the tree to get away from me. I wasn't ready to secure her, but I had to prevent her escape. I picked her up and placed her on my lap with some gentle pets. Her slow movement away from me gave me enough time to get my cat bag ready, so I bagged her before she could escape. She didn't complain or resist one bit and is now safe at home with her grateful family.

In a different Baton Rouge neighborhood, several people noticed an orange tabby that was stuck in a tree in one of the neighbor's backyard. Someone called Animal Control, and the Animal Control officer investigated and then called me. He was told that the cat had been stuck there for five days, but I don't know who told him and have no way to verify it. The timing was terrible since severe weather was forecast, but it appeared that I would have enough time to get this kitty down before it arrived.

I was encouraged by the way the cat spoke to me when I first arrived, but I would soon be disappointed in the tree to see him walk farther out his very long limb to get away from me. I could not persuade him to come any closer to me, so the only option I had was to set a trap for him in the tree. By the time I finished setting the trap, rain began to fall, but the severe weather was still far away, and I didn't expect this shower to last long. I went back to my car, out of the cat's sight, where I could wait and watch for him to go into the trap. Usually, cats go in the trap within thirty minutes, but this boy wasn't moving. Fortunately, I met some concerned and friendly neighbors who had a good view of the trap, so they watched it for me and offered to call me as soon as they notice any change. I went home and waited for their call.

The short shower was indeed short, but it was followed by an endless line of other short showers. I wasn't expecting this much rain so soon, and I was concerned about it washing away the food trail I made leading into the trap as well as filling the food container in the back of the trap thereby removing any incentive for the cat to go inside. As more and more time passed without a call, it was now clear that this cat was going to be stuck in the tree overnight and during the severe weather. Indeed, that is what happened. I was worried that the weather itself would trigger the trap door closed, and I would have to go through this all over again the next day. I wasn't feeling optimistic about this case, but then I got a late-night message from one of the neighbors: he is in the trap. I was very happy and relieved to hear that, but I was also sorry that the cat had to suffer through the storm.

The weather was calm the next morning, and I went out there to bring him down. He wasn't happy, but I sure was happy to see him stuck in the trap (picture below). All the neighbors reported seeing him in the neighborhood frequently for a long time, but no one knew if he had an owner. I found no Lost Cat posts or signs, and he did not have a microchip, so I decided it would be best to just turn him loose. One of the neighbors asked me if they could have the cat, so if the cat is homeless, I'm sure they will take him in.

The same afternoon, I got a call about a sweet, six-month-old, orange tabby girl named Tiger who was stuck in a Pine tree in her front yard in Watson. She had been in the tree only twelve hours at most, so she was not there during the storm. Friendly kitties like Tiger in an easy tree make for an easy rescue. However, I made one mistake. I forgot to bring my cat bag with me, and I intentionally left the carrier on the ground because I didn't expect to need it. When Tiger came to me, and I reached for my cat bag that wasn't there, I had only one option. I brought her down on my lap. It wasn't ideal, but we made it work, and this cutie is safe and happy back home again.