UPDATE: Falkland cat rescued after 24 hours stuck in tall tree | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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UPDATE: Falkland cat rescued after 24 hours stuck in tall tree

The red circle marks the spot where Ginger is currently stuck.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/Shelley Schneider
Original Publication Date December 13, 2021 - 3:08 PM

After 24 hours stuck at the top of a large fir tree Ginger the kitten has been rescued.

Falkland resident Shelley Schneider said a good Samaritan contacted her saying he could help.

"He didn't even use a ladder," Schneider said.

Schneider said Falkland resident Erick Ortiz climbed roughly 35 to 40 feet up the tree.

"The cat went to him and got on his shoulder," she said.

Schneider described Ortiz as "amazing."

Happier days, Ginger the cat playing with one of Schneider's goats.
Happier days, Ginger the cat playing with one of Schneider's goats.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/Shelley Schneider

Schneider said she first noticed Ginger stuck near the top of a large fir tree yesterday afternoon, Dec. 12, and almost 24 hours later, the kitten had yet to come down.

She posted to social media asking for help, and iNFOnews.ca wrote about Ginger's plight.

Schneider described Ortiz's climbing skills as "like a monkey" and said he scaled the fir tree in about 40 seconds.

"I was scared (watching him)," she said.

READ MORE: Study finds no increase in relinquished cats following B.C. declawing ban

Schneider said she first noticed that Ginger and another kitten, Tink, up the tree yesterday afternoon. Both cats spent the night in the tree, but finally, after plenty of coaxing Tink made her way down this morning.

Ginger, however, climbed much higher than Tink and couldn't make her own way down.

Schneider tried to get at the kitten with a ladder, but it was far too short.

She spent hours shaking the cat treats packet in hope of encouraging her down, but Ginger remained stuck.

After so much crying, Ginger almost lost her voice.

READ MORE: Cat overpopulation problem continues to plague Kamloops

Schneider said Ginger has never climbed up a tree before, and while cats find it relatively easy going up, their claws don't work well coming down headfirst.

With snow forecast tonight and the temperature dropping, Schneider was very worried about the kitten.

"It's cold out there, and it's windy up there in that tree," she said.

Schneider had said she didn't want to call 911 and has been told, unofficially, the fire department doesn't deal with cats stuck up trees.

After iNFOnews.ca published a story about Ginger Schneider said several people contacted her offering help.

"They are kind people," she said.

Thirsty and tired Ginger is now in good spirits.

"She was so happy she didn't want to be held, she just wanted her feet on the ground," Schneider said.

-— This story was updated at 5:04 p.m. Monday, Dec. 13, 2021, to say the cat had been rescued.


To contact a reporter for this story, email Ben Bulmer or call (250) 309-5230 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

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