"Buffy"/"Minnie" Rescues

This post is about two rescues, "Buffy" in mid-January and "Minnie" in late January

Gayle called - "Buffy" was stuck again in Gurely AL, could I help? I rescued Buffy in 2023 and he was a sweetie, so I was at the tree early the next morning. Buffy was about 30 feet up a mid-sized tree and crying for a rescue. Gayle and her husband had tried a kitty-elevator rescue but Buffy refused to jump in the crate. I soon had a rope in the tree, and started climbing, hoping for an easy rescue.  Buffy was initially at my rope tie-in point but then moved out on a limb as I climbed. When I reached the tie-in point, I started sweet talking, hoping to lure Buffy back.  I had no option for a higher tie-in, so if he did not come back to me I would have to set a trap. He slowly worked his way back, but was stopped by a union that he had to pass through in order to get to me. I could just barely reach him, and tried pulling him forward once I scruffed him. However, he had put on quite a bit of weight since the last rescue and I could not get him through the small union. He was becoming upset at the rough handling, and I knew if I let him go he would retreat all the way out and I would have to set a trap. In desperation, I grabbed his back leg, and pulled him backwards - he clung to the limb was soon on the underside of it, where I could get both hands on him and wrestle him into my lap.  I then struggled for about 5 minutes trying to stuff the fat yowling cat into the bag - eventually I won the battle!  I did not post the video because it is full of old man huffing/puffing and cat yowling.  Back on the ground, Gayle took Buffy inside and later reported that five minutes out of the back he was chowing down on some breakfast.  Gayle, many thanks for your super generous donation that went to a local kitty rescue.

Dave from Huntsville texted me - his kitty 'Minnie' was stuck and he needed help. Dave was only 15 minutes from my house, and a cold front moving in that day was going to drop temps to the teens, so it was important to get the kitty down. I drove over, and Dave lead me to a sketchy tree in a wooded lot where Minnie was about 25 feet up.  There was not a good option for a tie-in point, so I put up a 20 foot ladder and used a lanyard to keep me stable going up. I put a second lanyard over Minnie's limb to get me closer, and was soon close enough for a grab.  Minnie was a light weight and friendly, so the grab-N-bag went smoothly. Back on the ground, Dave took Minnie in for loving, food, and warmth.  The cold was already moving in, and because of my fingerless gloves, the tips of my fingers were completely numb by the end of the rescue. I was ready for some warmth myself!