Fire crews were called to help rescue a blind elderly cat which had been stuck up a tree for two nights in Dukinfield. 

Felix, aged 14, was 10 metres high in a tree on Chapel View and had been unable to climb down, despite attempts from his owners to help him. 

An RSPCA inspector from the Greater Manchester group was initially called but, due to the height, they had to call the fire service for assistance. 

A crew from Tameside attended the scene and a firefighter, who is due to retire this week, went up the ladder to rescue the cat. 

Felix was then returned to his delighted owner Sinead Thomas. 

Sinead said: “I am so grateful to the RSPCA and fire service for helping get Felix down - he is pleased to be home and is catching up on a lack of sleep and is now curled up on my bed.” 

That wasn't the only time that RSPCA animal rescue inspector Catherine Byrnes was required to rescue a cat stuck in a high place on Monday (2 August), after 10-month-old Ivy found herself in a spot of bother when she managed to climb out of a window onto a steep roof of a three-storey house in Rochdale. 

Catherine said: “We do often get cats stuck in high places because of their inquisitive nature but usually they can be enticed down with strong smelling food.

“However in these two cases, both cats were too frightened so needed some help to get themselves back onto safe ground.

“Because Felix couldn’t see he was struggling to get his feet on the thin branches so he needed help and when he heard his owner's voice he became very vocal and clearly wanted to get to her.

“In the case of Ivy she is a house cat so was very much outside her comfort zone when she became trapped on the roof.

“I am so grateful for the help of the fire service who often assist us on rescues and use it as a training exercise." 

RSPCA officers are trained to use ladders, which they carry for rescues like this, however, in situations where they still are unable to reach the animals, they may ask the fire service to help.

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