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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Or are these women just ... argg??

301 replies

Rosieeo · 10/12/2011 23:09

My cat is up a very tall, thin tree behind our house and has been there for three days now. She's 14 and very timid.

We realised she was missing after 24 hours (she is often out overnight) and went looking for her. She wasn't hard to find but will not come down. We've tried food, water, pusspusspussing. She just sits there and mews. So I rang the RSPCA who said that cats up trees normally come down within five days and that they wouldn't call the firemen till then. I mentioned the cold and they said that they'd send someone to assess but not to worry. A woman came out and said to keep encouraging her but that she would come down and if she didn't they would arrange something. Not to try to get to her. Fair enough, I thought.

Fast forward 24 hours and a woman from around the corner and her two friends come to the door. Is that my cat and what's going on? So I explain. They wanted to know why we hadn't tried to get her down. I explained. They asked why I hadn't put ladders up to get her. I'm eight months pregnant, which I thought might speak for itself. So I started to get annoyed, told them to leave it and shut the door.

This morning I went out to the cat and she's 10 foot higher than she was before. Perched in the branches where she was the night before is a bowl, I presume of food.

Midday, the women come round again. All of them. Why haven't I got the cat out of the tree? I pointed out that they had actually forced her further up the tree. Well at least we tried, they said, why haven't I called 999? Because it's not an emergency and costs 500 quid. Wouldn't it be worth it? They ask. Hmm. I told them not to knock again and to leave it to us and the RSPCA. And at this rate the bloody firemen.

As they were leaving, one of them said (very loudly and deliberately) "I feel sorry for her baby if that's how she treats her cat."

Am I being unreasonable to feel somewhat aggrieved?

OP posts:
BadDayAtTheOrifice · 11/12/2011 00:27

I would call the local fire brigade, (not via 999) and explain the situation and make it clear that it would be very risy for anyone to try and rescue her. I would have thought they may come out to save the cat if it involved humans putting themselves at risk to reach her.

I'm sure they wouldn't want an emergency call to come and rescue your husband hanging from a branch 30 feet up!

WorraLiberty · 11/12/2011 00:28

They won't turn up unless you manage to get a tv crew in for them

That's it in a nutshell wrapped with a cherry on top for me.

I had to stop watching the Rolf Harris programme years ago (Animal Hospital?) because they'd have you believe the RSPCA would come out to a hurt pigeon

When in reality, you'd have to report someone holding a gun to a horse's head before they'd bother...and even then the first priority would be a TV camera.

BadDayAtTheOrifice · 11/12/2011 00:28

*risky, not risy

WhoopsyLa · 11/12/2011 00:35

Well if OP called a few construction companies and the local papers then something would happen for sure...local radio could put an appeal out for a company to come with a cherry picker...3 days is too long.

Though I agree that at 8 months pregnant she should NOTry to climb any ladder even a few rungs. B

Moominsarescary · 11/12/2011 00:37

Unless you have a construction site with a cherry picker around the corner you would probably struggle to get hold of one.

Maybe phone your local fire station and ask their advice, although they might be unable to help at the weekend

AgentZigzag · 11/12/2011 00:37

I didn't think anything about the RSPCA until I heard the story a couple of years back about a will that left them a farm worth two mil being contested by the couples daughter.

Shameful behaviour on their part, even using the opportunity to send a message out that 'the case highlighted the importance of people discussing their intentions with family when making a will.' Hmm

I was still quite surprised to hear on MN about how ineffective they are.

Pixel · 11/12/2011 00:40

When my old cat somehow got herself stuck on a pub roof we had a constant stream of people coming in saying "do you know there's a cat on your roof?". People do get very concerned about moggies in trees etc even if they don't have any helpful suggestions. In the end we bribed one of the customers with offers for free beer to climb out of one of the windows on to the roof and rescue her! The fire brigade did say they would come but it would cost £80 (20 years ago) so I think they will do this sort of thing for a fee if it doesn't interfere with any emergencies. Well they did then, I suppose things might have changed by now.
I must say I would be a bit dubious about grabbing a cat by the scruff and expecting it to go limp while you climb back down a tree! Much safer all round to wrap it in a sheet or drop it in a sack or something. I agree tree surgeons would be the way to go, or failing that a roofer maybe? I know the man who fixed our roof last year frightened me to death going up a massive ladder in a howling wind and rain but he seemed quite confident. He asked me if I wanted to come up and have a look at the hole but I politely declined. Xmas Hmm

Original poster
Rosieeo · 11/12/2011 00:40

It's too long in retrospect. But by the time we found her she might have been up for 24 hours, the next day the women moved her up and here we are. I had hoped she would come down.

Surely seeing a cat up a tree and launching a full-scale call for aid is a bit ott?

OP posts:
Original poster
Rosieeo · 11/12/2011 00:44

In the defence of the RSPCA, they said that in their experiences cats came down within five days and that if it didn't they would deal with it. They sent someone out within 24 hours. I've been pleased with their response.

OP posts:
WhoopsyLa · 11/12/2011 00:44

And that last comment is why people are calling you mean and lazy OP...are you serious??? It's your PET! Your responsibility!

AgnesBligg · 11/12/2011 00:44

jeeez. You are all such bastards Shock. OP please don't attempt to climb even a little way yourself. Op made the point that the poor old cat was frightened by the interfering cows and scrambled even higher up the tree.

I'm sad for this poor cold cat but that's no reason to blast this poster.

WhoopsyLa · 11/12/2011 00:45

x posts...I mean the comment where you say Surely seeing a cat up a tree and launching a full-scale call for aid is a bit ott? that

WhoopsyLa · 11/12/2011 00:46

Nobody is telling her to climb up Agnes. Why would they do that? She's 8 month pg....but she seems very cold about it.

Original poster
Rosieeo · 11/12/2011 00:48

I don't understand Whoopsy. I'm mean and lazy because the sight of a cat up a tree doesn't make me launch a Facebook campaign?

OP posts:
AgentZigzag · 11/12/2011 00:49

I've just quoted tabula saying the OP should get up the ladder herself Whoopsy -

'Whoopsy, I had SPD, I'd still have made it up a few feet of ladder to see if the cat would come down for me...given that it's more likely to come down for its owner. It would have hurt and I'd have paid for it even more later on like.'

It was a post to you Grin

Original poster
Rosieeo · 11/12/2011 00:49

I care about the cat but I care about the people who might rashly try to rescue her more.

OP posts:
WhoopsyLa · 11/12/2011 00:50

Oh Rosie I dont want to upet you! You are pregnant and that's the main thing...of course you are not mean...but I like others are perhaps more proactive and you do seem a bit "meh" about the poor old cat.

AgentZigzag · 11/12/2011 00:52

I've lost a bit of sympathy for you when you say you wouldn't bother starting a Facebook campaign to help your cat OP.

Why wouldn't you?

WhoopsyLa · 11/12/2011 00:53

I don't thnk I referenced your past Agent this thread is getting confusing! Xmas Grin Or I am tired now!

Pixel · 11/12/2011 00:53

Btw, just re-read, and when I say drop it in a sack I mean and then carry the sack down, not drop it out of the tree!
I asked the RSPCA to help me catch a wild cat with a broken leg, all I wanted was the loan of a humane trap but they wouldn't help, and that wasn't the first time they'd let us down in that way either. I would never ask them for anything again.
How about contacting the local radio station? They could put out an appeal for anyone who might be in the area with useful equipment who wouldn't mind sparing some time to help. You could offer to make a donation to a charity of their choice, tug a few heart strings with Christmas coming...

WorraLiberty · 11/12/2011 00:53

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by Mumsnet.

BadDayAtTheOrifice · 11/12/2011 00:54

WTF is a Facebook 'campaign' going to do? Jesus, some people are deluded.

WhoopsyLa · 11/12/2011 00:55

SMaller cat rescues have good cat catching skills you know OP...

Original poster
Rosieeo · 11/12/2011 00:55

I'm not unconcerned, really. And if the RSPCA prove to be as useless as people have suggested then I will act, believe me. But I do feel that there is very little I can do, practically speaking. Others feel differently, which is fine of course.

OP posts:
AgentZigzag · 11/12/2011 00:55

It might not do anything BadDay, but it's free and something the OP could try?