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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:
needanewname · 11/12/2011 09:06

Op, your neighbours are nutters, as are some of the posters on here. Hope your cat is ok.

RumpledTitSkin · 11/12/2011 09:20

Oh good god, there are some ridiculous people on here.

I worked for rspca for years and can't tell you the amount of times I got called out to cats up trees. We used to respond with the advice to leave it for 24 hours unless it was sick, injured, elderly or under 6 months, in which case we would come out asap. Can I just say at this point that I covered an area the size of two counties on my own at weekends.

In roughly 15 years I have climbed up myself, putting myself at risk and going against health and safety advice, called the fire service more times than I care to remember and no end of tree surgeons. In all those years, only one cat was caught and carried down, by a tree surgeon as it goes. Lots jumped, lots went higher and some fell. Luckily none were ever harmed and those that stayed in the tree came down on their own once every bugger had left them alone. I never ever saw or heard about a dead cat in a tree.

Some people need to get a grip.

Op, I think you are being very sensible not to rise to the hysteria on here.

Once again it is proved that this is not the place for measured advice regarding animals.

Facebook group? Wtaf?

Original poster
Rosieeo · 11/12/2011 09:25

Morning all and thank you for the non-sweary responses.

The cat wasn't in the tree this morning, but she hasn't come home :( We've been out looking for her but nothing so far.

However, I did have a note pushed through my door while we were out, informing me that I have been reported to the RSPCA.

[Hollow laugh]

OP posts:
ManateeEquineOhara · 11/12/2011 09:27

Radio appeals and fb groups - WHAT THE FUCK?!

OP - follow the advice of the RSPCA, they have their faults, but as the comment from an RSPCA inspector here illustrated - they are the experts in this kind of thing. Not some nutcase who thinks you need a fb group, and not some mad bitchy neighbours!

elinorbellowed · 11/12/2011 09:30

Now, do you honestly think you'd have been reported to the NSPCC if you were suspected by some bored interfering harpies of neglecting your child. Probably not. They'd probably kvetch for several days about whether they should get involved or not. And yet, when it's an animal, suddenly it takes a village.
Hope she turns up. And don't you dare worry about the RSPCA!

LouisPasteur · 11/12/2011 09:33

Worra, you're quite unpleasant really, aren't you.

Doyouthinktheysaurus · 11/12/2011 09:38

I hope your cat returns safe and well RosieSad

Also quite shocked by the tone of some of the responses, very rude!

And as for the suggestion that an 8 month pregnant woman should climb a ladder after a cat.....words fail me. The stairs we enough of a struggle for me at that stage of pregnancyGrin

WelshMoth · 11/12/2011 09:40

OP is having a bit of a flaming here - why don't some of you back down eh?
Not everyone are aware of the RSPCA shortfalls, so those who do rely upon these 'experts' to advise us aren't evil and heartless.

OP, give a Tree surgeon a call today - most around here use mobile phone's as their business lines so you could get some advice today. You may be able to get one out today if you agree a fee. There's a big chance that you're going to have to get this poor moggie to the vet's so the sooner you get her down, the better.

bamboobutton · 11/12/2011 09:41

the cat will have buggered off to stretch her legs i expect. she'll be back later so her servants can feed her. get some posh cat food in as a treat.

SleepyFergus · 11/12/2011 09:41

Rosieo - glad puss is out the tree and i hope she comes home soon. I don't believe you could have done Amy more and the witches who ate your 'neighbours' sound very unpleasant busy-bodies.

As for some of the posters on here - what a bunch of bitches!! Some very uncalled for posts and horrible behaviour.

bellatrixrocks · 11/12/2011 09:43

Hi OP
can't believe how nasty some people have been on here!
Hope puss turns up soon - i'd leave some smelly fish or bacon on the door step for her! Grin
ignore all the nastiness - when i was 8 months pregnant that would have really upset me
and have some chocolateand a Brew

trixymalixy · 11/12/2011 09:43

Shock at all the nutters on her!!!

OP you are doing the right thing following the RSPCA advice.

Those women are off their rockers as are many if the posters on here. It's a cat, it will come down by itself. And I say that as a former cat owner.

SantasStrapon · 11/12/2011 09:44

RSPCA recommended 5 days, not 24 hours. In winter, for a 14 year old cat. And sadly the criticism of the RSPCA is down to personal experience. I'm not going to say what experience exactly, but it was a situation that was endangering the lives of people, a well as the life of the large animal involved, and they didn't want to know. Told me to call the police and/or a vet. Both of whom said it was an RSPCA case.

Why they still have Royal status is beyond me.

lljkk · 11/12/2011 09:45

I'd be terrified of the cat being terrified & falling out of the tree (from a great height) if you tried many of the things suggested here.
Actually, I am terrified that's exactly what happened given the missing moggie. :(
YANBU OP.
If those women were really helpful they might have tried to brainstorm with you, not just make horrid comments & make things worse.

I am making a mental note never to ask about this type of thing on MN.

MrsHankey · 11/12/2011 09:46

Hope she comes home soon.

Dustinthewind · 11/12/2011 09:49

Your cat is probably working its way around the neighbours, lying on silk cushions and being fed on steamed salmon and free-range chicken.
Whilst they cluck and hiss about you.
She'll come home when she's bored, unless she has indeed been blown to Northumbria.

libelulle · 11/12/2011 09:50

Thank god reason seems to have returned. I read this at 4am and thought I must be hallucinating. I love cats as much as the next person, but fb groups, radio appeals, lying to the fire service, or letting anyone, let alone my dh, shimmy 40 feet up a spindly tree to rescue a cat?!?! Oi vey, there are some lunatics very peculiar people about on aibu these days. So sorry the cat has vanished - really hope it turns up soon:(

welliesandpyjamas · 11/12/2011 09:51

This thread is absolutely hilarious!!!

...and as my giggling calms down, I have a warm glow inside knowing that all the posters who got so indignant at the OP for following the RSPCA's advice and allowing the cat's own nature to make it come down (which it did), are also putting the same passion and time in to fighting famine, child abuse, corruption, discrimination, etc etc Thank goodness they are out there fighting the fight.

Hollyfoot · 11/12/2011 09:52

Firstly I really hope she comes home soon, everything crossed for you.

The RSPCA need to decide what their policy actually is; I called them when our cat had been stuck up a tree for either 2 or 3 days (cant remember which) and they came straight out and called the fire brigade as soon as they arrived.

WhoopsyLa · 11/12/2011 09:52

Well Fergus you've stooped as low as some of the posters who were swearing at the OP...I don't care what anyone says....the OP DID seem uncaring and blase about the cat. I never did anything really bad apart from accusing OP of being lazy (for which I am sorry Rosie) and maybe get a bit too keen in my suggestions of ways to get the cat out...the MN cavalry has been equally ott in their defence of Rosie....

Chill out everyone....the cat's down and I am glad...she's probably licking her paws somehwere and trying to recover....I hope you are ok Rosie...I certainly didnt come on thread to upst anyone and I hope the cat is home asap.

WhoopsyLa · 11/12/2011 09:53

It was also a full moon last night.

Blush That explains a LOT

RumpledTitSkin · 11/12/2011 09:53

Sarah, the time frame may well have changed since I worked for them, possibly due to the volume of cats going up trees and the lack of success getting them down.

What your personal experience was I can only guess at, but as a wild guess, I'd say it involved a healthy, un injured or straying animal.

Op, hope your cat comes home soon, glad it came down on it's own and all the best with your pregnancy.

MardyArsedMidlander · 11/12/2011 09:57

I am a total mental at lover but am absolutely AGHAST at the suggestions that a 8 month pregnant woman should be climibing any distance at all!!! And as for calling a tree surgeon- what part of DOESN'T HAVE THE MONEY do people not understand?

I have pet insurance but seriously doubt it would cover that.

WhoopsyLa · 11/12/2011 10:00

Catch up Mardy thread has moved on and only ONE person thought she should go up the ladder. and don't shout.

VivaLeBeaver · 11/12/2011 10:01

40ft is the height of a 5 story building. Does someone really hAve a washing line that high? People for 50 miles would see your knickers!