Feline rescued from 40ft tree after 24-hour ordeal

An eight-month-old ginger cat named Otto, belonging to Jodie Lumber and Elliott Sawyer, became stranded for 24 hours after ascending a 40ft (12m) holm oak tree in Weymouth, Dorset, on Sunday. Ms. Lumber expressed being “heartbroken” during her pet’s ordeal, noting that neither the RSPCA nor the fire service could respond to the situation. The following day, Monday, a team from Knighton Countryside Management intervened, employing a cherry picker to retrieve the distressed feline. Otto was reported to be physically unharmed, though somewhat shaken by the incident. Ms. Lumber stated that the rescuers’ compassion “meant the world to us.” She added, “Otto is like family and … is now reunited with Daisy our 15-year-old cat, who is much better behaved.” Mr. Sawyer reiterated her appreciation, characterizing Otto as “a real character.” Mr. Sawyer further commented, “He has already scaled the Christmas tree in the lounge and brought it to the ground. He took on a bit more than he could handle climbing this tree,” and expressed, “I was heartbroken watching him stuck up there.” Tree surgeons George Emery and Andy Carr spearheaded the rescue operation at the Lorton Lane property. Mr. Emery remarked, “It’s not every day you get called to save a cat, but we’re always happy to help the community.” For updates, BBC Dorset can be followed on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. This content is copyrighted by BBC, 2024, with all rights reserved. The BBC clarifies that it is not accountable for the content found on external sites and provides details regarding its external linking policy.