Help! My Cat Is Stuck In A Tree!

It happens in an instant. Your door is open a split second too long, and your indoor-only cat is outside and up a tree—way up a tree, beyond reach of most ladders. You hear the piteous cries from above. Now what?

- By Laurie Coughlan

People joke about cats stuck in trees. “He’ll come down on his own. You don’t find cat skeletons in trees.” In fact, cat skeletons have been found in trees, but naturally finding one up high is unlikely because, well, gravity. A cat high in a tree may be in real trouble. Of all felines, only the forest-dwelling clouded leopards have specialized anklebones and footpads which allow varied climbing positions, including the ability to come down trees headfirst. A domestic cat’s feet and claws are designed to climb up, not down. So, to get down, the cat must come down backwards, usually jumping the last part. That is a daunting task from 40 or more feet up. It gets worse over time, because once a cat has spent a few days in a tree, it is weakened from hunger and dehydration, and less likely to be able to maneuver his way down safely.

Why do they go there? A stressed cat is likely to consider the tree a handy escape route when scared. A dog, wildlife, another cat, loud noises, and human strangers all may inspire a need to escape. In many cases the cat is stressed from recent changes in the household, like a move or a new family member. Sometimes cats, and especially kittens, simply climb to explore and get stranded.