Do firefighters actually rescue cats from trees?

Have you ever wonder whether firefighters actually rescue cats from trees, or if that’s just another age-old misconception often found in charming children’s books and movies? Well, the answer to that question might not be so simple.

Since firefighters have long, sturdy ladders in their possession, it’d make sense that one’d give them a call if a beloved cat were stuck on a high branch so they’d come to the rescue. This course of action does sometimes happen … but not always!

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Although some fire departments tell callers that they can’t fetch felines from trees some will at least go assess the situation to see if it’s a quick, easy rescue. But if it isn’t, they might decline. Firefighters could also decline if they’re understaffed.

“Rescuing a cat from a tree is not something we’re equipped to do,” a Fire Chief explained “Our equipment is specifically for fighting fires. Trying to place a ladder through leaf-filled, gnarled branches could damage the ladder and it’d be a risk.”

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But they certainly do more than rescuing cats from trees! A firefighters said: “More often than not, we rescue cute and curious kittens stuck in walls and pipes!”

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In summary, firefighters do sometimes save cats from trees but if they tell you to call a tree and crane service instead, it’s not because they don’t care about cats.