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Cat rescued from 60-foot perch in tree
Wendy Bumgarner
Jerry Estes scales a maple tree to rescue 'Lucky,' a feline stuck 60 feet above ground.
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Published: November 6, 2009
HICKORY - Residents of an apartment complex near Valley Hills Mall don't know what to call the affectionate black and white cat that showed up there earlier this week, but they think "Lucky" would be appropriate.
"Of his nine lives, he's probably only got one good one left," said Debbie Laux, who spearheaded an effort to rescue the young cat from a perilous perch 60 feet up a maple tree. "He's a lucky guy."
On Tuesday, residents and management of The Legends luxury apartments started hearing cat cries coming from a heavily wooded ravine bordering the property, but couldn't locate the source.
They turned to resident expert Laux, a professional pet sitter who volunteers with 13 animal rescue groups.
Laux finally spotted the cat, which she quickly determined could not make it back to ground safely without assistance.
Many people falsely believe that all treed cats will eventually figure out how to climb down, and those that fall will land safely on their feet, Laux said.
"Not true," she explained.
"Sometimes they can't climb down. And sometimes they fall and die. I've known it to happen."
Calls to the city's animal control department and Hickory Fire Department confirmed what Laux already suspected: neither was equipped to rescue the cat.
"A tree service was our only option," she said.
Encouraged by several neighbors who agreed to split the cost, Laux turned to the Yellow Pages and called Apple Tree Service of Hickory.
Jerry Estes agreed to do the job for $200.
"We do a lot of this," said Estes, who late Thursday morning used ropes, spikes a climber's belt and "a lot of experience" to scale the tree to a point just below the yowling cat.
"Here kitty, nice kitty," Estes called soothingly, reaching out for the frightened feline.
On the ground, Apple Tree Service's Daniel Wright held fast to a safety line while several residents of The Legends held their breath.
After a few tense moments, Estes coaxed the cat into his arms, eased it into a mesh laundry bag and roped down the tree.
Laux and her neighbors set out bowls of cat food and water before releasing the animal from the bag.
Half expecting it to make a dash for freedom, they were relieved when the cat simply sat down and began eating.
"Look how clean he is," said Legends resident Leonard Newton.
"He's purring. This must be somebody's pet."
After eating and drinking his fill, the cat walked from person to person, rubbing against shins, making more friends.
Laux said all the foster homes she knows of are filled, but that she will feed "Lucky" until someone adopts him.
"We should even be able to pull together enough to have him neutered and vaccinated," she said.
"The main thing is he's safe."
On a difficulty scale of one to 10, Estes rated the rescue at a six.
"The cat was pretty calm," Estes said.
"If he had been angry, it would have been a 10."
Estes, too, was pleased at the rescue mission's success.
He cut his price to $150.
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