Firefighters teamed up with the RSPCA to rescue a beloved cat who had become stuck in a tree in Brookmans Park.
Wolfie the cat was deeply wedged in the tree, and needed the assistance of five firefighters to be freed.
The RSPCA was contacted after concerned members of the public noticed he cat had got himself stuck in the stuck in a tree on Thursday, April 27.
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Nicole Smith, RSPCA animal rescue officer, said: “When I arrived, I could see the poor cat was very wedged in at his abdomen and his hips were rotated at a 90-degree angle. It must have been very painful and uncomfortable for him.
“I tried to get him free, but due to the uneven ground, the torrential rain, and the angle, it was impossible to remove him safely."
Wolfie was stuck 18-feet in the air and as he was "distressed", Nicole could not touch him, so she called Potters Bar firefighters for assistance.
She added: “We worked together to try and free him, but after another failed attempt and a firefighter receiving a nasty nip through his glove, we had to call in the specialist rescue team.
Two ladders had to be erected, one at the front of the tree and one at the back, and the team approached the cat carefully from each side at the same time.
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Once the cat was brought down, Nicole noticed that he was freezing and his "rear legs had become numb" and he needed to visit the vets.
After a night of care, fluids and warmth, Wolfie was given the go ahead to be returned home.
Unable to find his owners, the RSPCA released Wolfie back to the area with a paper collar asking his owners to contact the RSPCA and put up some posters. His owners were soon found.
Nicole added: “It was lovely to have a happy ending to a story and to be able to reunite Wolfie with his family.
"Poor Wolfie had a very traumatic 24 hours. But he is back home and being given lots of love and care.”
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