DaVinci

Meghan is quite a cat lover, and she has several cats of her own, including one six-month-old Ragdoll, named DaVinci, who is very special to her. DaVinci is not allowed outside, but he managed to escape and climb the large Live Oak tree in the backyard. Meghan lovingly describes DaVinci as "not very bright" unlike his namesake, and DaVinci not only climbed the tree, but he also went thirty feet high which, in a Live Oak, is very high and getting into the small wood. Of course, DaVinci did not know how to climb down, so he was stuck there, and Meghan was very distressed. She and her family "moved mountains" to help DaVinci down, but failed in their efforts which only added to the distress. DaVinci wasn't happy either, and he was complaining constantly about his plight and their lack of success. At her wit's end, Meghan called me and asked for help. I heard the distress in her voice and her need for a quick resolution, and I understood how much her baby meant to her, but I could not give her the answer she wanted. I was just arriving to rescue Breezy in Denham Springs, and I knew I would not have time to rescue Breezy and drive to Slidell to rescue DaVinci before dark. It hurts me to tell suffering people and their cats that they will have to wait till morning, and I knew Meghan was in for a second sleepless night, but there are limits to what I can do.

Sometimes, after I rescue a cat, the owner will hug me, and that is a reward I truly enjoy. Meghan hugged me as soon as I arrived. I think that is the first time that has ever happened to me, and I hope it is the beginning of a new trend. She was so relieved to have some help and hope at last, and my arrival was equivalent in her mind to a happy ending, so she was ready to celebrate. However, I was quietly thinking that I can't make any guarantees here, but I didn't say anything about it being too soon to celebrate. After all, I don't want to be a Gloomy Gus, even though I haven't even seen the cat and tree yet.

Rescuing cats in Live Oak trees can be challenging. Depending on where the cat is and how cooperative he is, it can be very frustrating or even impossible. Fortunately, DaVinci was expected to live up to the Ragdoll reputation and be cooperative, but that is not a guarantee in this situation, and he was still located in a spot where I could not go. I was apprehensive as I installed my rope in the tree and climbed up to him, but I was happy to see him come closer to me and appear friendly. It was difficult and awkward to scramble up a little higher so that he would be within reach, but once I got there, he was ready to greet me. We didn't waste time chatting. Knowing that he was well acclimated to carriers, I held the carrier out to him, and he gave it a good, long look and then stepped inside. When I closed the carrier door, I think I was more relieved than Meghan and DaVinci were.

I brought DaVinci down, returned him to his safe place at home, and restored peace in Meghan's house again. DaVinci was fine. After the other cats sniffed him and welcomed him back home, he ate, and they played together before DaVinci went to his spot on top of the cat tree and settled in for a long nap.

It's aggravating, but I forgot to turn on the camera for video of the important part of the rescue. I am thinking about many things when up in the tree, and the camera simply is not at the top of my priority list. DaVinci's rescue in a Live Oak tree would have made a cute video, but it is not to be. I was lucky to salvage a few decent pictures of him, and that will have to do.