Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
EmailIphone Application    Posted: 4th January 2024
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.
Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

Tree surgeon saves cat from 60ft tree
The RSPCA feared they would be unable to rescue Princess until the next morning, 48 hours after she had gone up there.
The RSPCA called him in after rescue officers’ attempts failed.

A tree surgeon has rescued a stranded cat after it became stuck in a 60ft high fir tree in Cambridgeshire.

Seth Masters, who owns Iceni Tree Care in Norfolk, was called in by the RSPCA after fire and rescue officers were unable to scale the conifer.

Princess the cat was found in the tree on Friday 22 December, when the rescue charity was called to save her. The rescue officers discovered Princess almost at the top of the tree, and contacted the fire and rescue service.

When the fire and rescue team arrived on the scene, they could not mount their ladders against the tree due to the height of the tree and limited access to the garden.

The RSPCA feared they would be unable to rescue Princess until the next morning, 48 hours after she had gone up there.

However Mr Masters answered the charity’s calls for help and offered his climbing skills to retrieve the feline. He carried out a rope rescue, using his tree-climbing equipment to climb the swaying fir tree and lower Princess down in a rope bag to waiting RSPCA inspector Justin Stubbs.

The RSPCA advises cat owners to give their cat time to climb down from trees themselves, or tempt them with food or smelly treats, before contacting a rescue team.

If the cat stays stuck up the tree for over 24 hours, the weather conditions are bad, or the cat is injured or young, then cat owners should contact 0300 1234 999. The RSPCA may need to contact the fire and rescue service if necessary, and fire office may use the situation for training purposes.

Owners may be asked to contact a tree surgeon if the RSPCA is unable to get someone to the cat.

RSPCA inspector Justin Stubbs said: “The RSPCA can't thank Seth enough as this was a very high and technical rescue, which without his genuine expertise the cat may have had to stay up there for at least another day.

“With it being Christmas and it being an urgent rescue, Seth said he wasn’t even going to charge the RSPCA for his work, which was a great gesture.”

Image © RSPCA

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Reporting service for dead wild birds updated

News Story 1
 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.

The new version allows those reporting a dead bird to drop a pin on a map when reporting the location. It also includes a wider range of wild bird species groups to select from when describing the bird.

The online service, which helps APHA to monitor the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, can be accessed here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NI chief vet urges bluetongue vigilance

Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer (CVO) has urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of bluetongue, after the Animal and Plant Health Agency warned there was a very high probability of further cases in Great Britain.

There have been 126 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England since November 2023, with no cases reported in Northern Ireland. The movement of live ruminants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is currently suspended.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the virus is most likely to enter Northern Ireland through infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova) being imported.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland's CVO, said: "Surveillance for this disease within Northern Ireland has been increased to assist with detection at the earliest opportunity which will facilitate more effective control measures."

Farmers should report any suspicions of the disease to their private veterinary practitioner, the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.