Worried Kitten Hanging from a Branch

About this drawing

A kitten in a tree stars in plenty of rescue stories, and the cause is right there on its paws. Cats are great at going up because their curved claws dig into bark like tiny hooks, while powerful back legs push them upward. Up they go in a flash.

Getting down is a different story. Those claws curve backward, so they cannot grip when a cat heads down the trunk face first. Trying it that way usually leads to slipping. The right way is to back down slowly, tail first, just as a person climbs down a ladder. Many young cats have not figured that out, so they stay put and cry for help.

If you ever spot a cat up a tree, stay calm. Quite often, it will come down on its own once things are quiet and any barking dogs have left. Setting some strong-smelling food at the base of the trunk can help, and then you just have to wait. Do not climb up alone or throw anything to make it move.

Despite the old jokes, the fire department does not usually handle these calls. If the cat has been stuck for a long time, ask an animal rescue group or a professional tree climber for help. Once the kitten is safe on the ground, all it needs is a quiet room, some water and time to calm down.

• kitten
• tree
• claws
• rescue