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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:
troisgarcons · 11/12/2011 06:39

And someone's washing line is 40 feet up?!?! Then how do you hang the washing? I'd like to see that.

Because its on pulleys, a marvellous contraption made by the now-deceased FIL involving several scaffold poles. Not those stupid whirly things most peopel have in this country.

hickerybobp · 11/12/2011 06:48

40 ft high washing line?! I bet drying your sheets on a gusty day is like pulling in a sail during high winds! :D

Bagpusstree · 11/12/2011 06:52

Just to say, I haven't namechanged specifically for this thread!!

Firstly, YANBU re the women. However if they call again, I would swallow my pride, say I really want to get my cat down and is there anything they can think of that may help because I am 8 months pregnant..... Personally I probably wouldn't be able to let the last bit be said a little sarcastically, but if they can help, try and be nice Xmas Wink

Secondly, I think the local radio appeal would be the most likely idea that may produce some results on a Sunday.

Thirdly, the RSPCA are useless, money grabbing, publicity seeking tossers. They will not help unless the media are involved in some way, or unless they smell an obvious prosecution. For the rest of the small incidents where animals are still suffering regardless, they do not give a shit and WILL NOT HELP. They will have trotted out this advice just to get you off the phone.

Good luck OP, I hope she has come down by herself overnight.

WTFlike · 11/12/2011 07:22

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by Mumsnet.

rowingdowntheriver · 11/12/2011 07:34

Was thinking the same thing WTF!

AmberNectarine · 11/12/2011 07:51

OP I really hope your cat comes down of it's own accord and shuts all these twats up who are calling you lazy at 8 months pg and generally abusing you for following the advice of professionals who you can only assume know better than you.

I am absolutely horrified at the way you have been treated, and the implication that you have been neglectful or indeed that those women were right to suggest you would neglect your child is appalling.

I don't understand where there has been any ambiguity here, some people went up after the cat and she climbed further up. How tall is this tree? Perhaps the armed forces could send out a helicopter or something? Hmm And surely if she is traumatised by this she will go straight back up?

Chin up OP, and I hope your cat climbs down safe and sound pronto.

jenniferturkington · 11/12/2011 08:14

Can't believe how you have been treated on here. WorralLiberty, get some perspective! I think you have done everything fine so far, and are hopefully thinking about the tree surgeon suggestion. However, your cat will probably come down of its own accord soon.

Agree about the RSPCA though, awful awful people. It seems so many people have had a bad experience with them.

HoneydragonAteCliffRichard · 11/12/2011 08:26

How the fuck is a Fb page going to get the cat down? Fine is the op finds a local page and posts for advice on tree surgeons.

But a Fb page? The Internet isn't magic you know. Are you all assuming the cat has a smartphone and will log in and think "wow these people love me I'll get down?"

QuietNinjaMincepie · 11/12/2011 08:27

Have read thread and agree RSPCA are rubbish. Have also reported worrals post as I think that's a bit too much personal attack wise.
Hope your cat is down safe and sound soon op.

SuePurblybiltbyElves · 11/12/2011 08:30

Ring the local radio station, they never have any actual news stories. Ask them to appeal for climbers/tree surgeons. Tell them the cat's name is Mrs Claus or Christmas or something. Cry.
Reckon they'll snap your hand off, they would here.

HoneydragonAteCliffRichard · 11/12/2011 08:31

Ninja, there are a lot of personal attacks on this thread that can, in no way what so ever, be justified as an "opinion".

SuePurblybiltbyElves · 11/12/2011 08:32

Ah, see that's been suggested Blush, it's too early for me. But I stand by my name suggestions Grin

FairyOnTheXmasTreeMcFlouncer · 11/12/2011 08:34

Congratulations Worraliberty, you've made me use the 'report post' button for the first time ever.

Totally amazed by many of the responses here. Talk about carried along on a tide of indignation!

QuietNinjaMincepie · 11/12/2011 08:36

True honey but worras did stand out as particularly nasty to me. Think the full moon last night sent everyone a bit lala to get this frothed up about a cat in a tree. I hope op can get it down obviously but some people need to get a grip.

differentnameforthis · 11/12/2011 08:37

OP isn't on fb, therefore has no facebook friends, so what the fuck good will a facebook campaign do when OP has no one to help her spread the word?

Hmm
SuePurblybiltbyElves · 11/12/2011 08:41

In fact, I wish I had a cat, just to name it Mrs Claws/Claus.

op, I once got a cat out of a stuck place with bacon, could that help encourage it down a bit? Though I suppose it'll be very dehydrated by now, praps it's too salty. Can you not ring the RSPCA and say it looks as if she's unconcious?

troisgarcons · 11/12/2011 08:48

Didnt the Op say she was up north somewhere?the cat will have been blown out of the tree by now.

akaemmafrost · 11/12/2011 08:51

There are some confirmed knobs on this thread that's for sure.

Sorry to hear about your cat OP and I didn't read you as being uncaring at ALL.

No suggestions really though I must admit I would contact a couple of Tree Surgeons. If they say no you will at least be able to post that on here and give the haters a focus other than yourself.

Sad poor cat. I hope she comes down soon.

bamboobutton · 11/12/2011 08:53

my dad's a fireman and do you know how they usually get cats down from trees? they give them a blast from the hosepipe, gets them down a treat apparently.

elinorbellowed · 11/12/2011 08:54

I am so relieved that the sensible half of MN turned up. I was starting to think you'd all gone stark staring mad. A 'cold-hearted bitch' because the OP wasn't 'taking the advice'. Fucking hell!
It's a cat. A cat. I love animals so much that I don't eat them, but a cat up a tree is not enough of a concern or an emergency that that the OP should be chastised either by bored neighbours looking for a drama or nutters on the internet.
The cat will come down when it is good and ready. If the stupid neighbours haven't scared it too much. Also agree with the poster who said that she might have deliberately gone off, as it's her time. OP, you have done nothing wrong and I hope she comes down soon. And YANBU about the interfering neighbours.

roulade · 11/12/2011 08:55

What Fairy said. Reported too.

peggyblackett · 11/12/2011 08:56

Wow - have seen some posters in a whole new light as a result of this thread - its not a good light.

OP, you do need to do something, but I think you know that now. Please find a professional to go up the tree, don't attempt it yourself - that would be bonkers.

fuzzypicklehead · 11/12/2011 08:57

Op, I'm sad for your cat. However, I think appealing to members of the public to attempt a rescue would leave you vulnerable to lawsuit if anyone were injured in the process. So you're right to follow rspca advice even if it sucks.

lisad123 · 11/12/2011 08:58

Wow some very nasty comments on here! Confused
Just because you think you would do different there is no need to be so rude. Op clearly thought the RSPCA were a good point of advice, as most would. She has said she will call about today but if she doesn't have money to pay, she doesn't have money, and no way is it a good idea to send anyone up that high without harness equipment.

purplehonesty · 11/12/2011 09:02

I second/third the radio appeal. Betcha some nice kind person will come and help. Whereabouts are you? I know 2 tree surgeons who woul be happy to shin up and fetch puss

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