What To Do When A Cat Is Stuck In A Tree

Being naturals at climbing, cats can often be found stuck up in a tree.  For many cat lovers, this is a serious cause for concern and stress.  So what do you do when a kitty finds himself meowing for help from way up high?  
Many peoples' first instinct is to reach out to the local fire department.  Often seen in TV shows, cartoons, and children's books, it's no surprise that someone might think a firefighter can come to the kitty's rescue.  Occasionally, they may be able to help depending on where you live, but the unfortunate reality is that most fire departments will not come out to help the cat.  It's not for lack of caring; plenty of firefighters would love to help, but they have rules to follow.  
Most fire departments do not have a large fleet of trucks, and they have just enough fighters on duty to help for a fire emergency.  They cannot reasonably take up resources to rescue a cat when there could very well be humans in need of rescue, and fires needing to be extinguished.

Luckily, if you know what to do or where to look, there are some alternatives to calling the fire department.
Depending on how high the cat is, you may be able to coax them down.  Have a trap prepared in case you are unable to grab the cat.  (Some shelters will loan traps for a small fee/refundable deposit.)  Get a tasty snack - stinky fish, sardines, canned cat food, or even some KFC can lure a cat closer to you.  You can try offering the snack & using a calm, soft voice to encourage the kitty to come down.  If the cat seems scared of humans, you may need to place the food and hide somewhere nearby.
While you wait, it can be useful to post in local forums/community groups online to see if any avid tree climbers are available to assist.  It is not recommended to attempt climbing unless you're well versed in & equipped for such a task - even a pro climber can have issues juggling a cat & carrier while making their descent.  
If the cat will not come down, and you are unable to locate someone to climb, consider reaching out to any & all local tree services.  Many tree services have lift trucks or employees capable of climbing with the proper safety gear.  
Here in Northeast Ohio, we have seen several tree services who have been known to rescue cats!  You can find their information below.  If you aren't in NE Ohio, we recommend using a search engine to find tree services closest to you - call them all as soon as possible.
With a bit of community collaboration, many cats in trees can get down safely!

Northeast Ohio tree services who may be able to assist:
⦁ Out On A Limb, Avon Lake: 440-933-2880
⦁ Blaha's Landscaping & Tree Service, North Royalton: 440-336-0294, [email protected]
⦁ Tree Contractors Inc.: 440-653-3396, [email protected], https://www.facebook.com/TreeContractorsInc