A daring rescue mission unfolded as a six-month-old tabby named Willow found herself stranded 150 feet high in a towering fir tree in Cwmaman, Rhondda Cynon Taf.
Willow had embarked on a squirrel-chasing adventure while her owners were away at the beach.
For nearly 24 hours, Willow remained perched on the tree until a tree surgeon arrived the following morning to rescue her.
The dramatic episode played out on Facebook on a Saturday, drawing the attention and concern of numerous pet lovers eager to lend their support.
Willow’s owner, Meghan Blainaut, said: “We’d gone to Mumbles for the day to make the most of the nice weather, but while we were there we got a phone call from our neighbours,”
“They told us they’d heard Willow crying and couldn’t work out where the noise was coming from.
“Normally she just wanders around our garden or pops over the wall to play with next door’s dog – but she never ever climbs trees.”
The 27-year-old caregiver and mother of two explained that when the family returned to their home on Llanwonno Road in the village, it had already grown too dark for them to attempt rescuing Willow on their own.
“My partner tried to coax her down but she was far too high – she was practically at the top of the tree and too scared to move,” said Meghan.
“What followed was a terrible night of tossing and turning, and when we woke up the next day someone had already posted a call for help on social media.”
Included in that shout-out was tree surgeon Mike Bailey, who was mentioned or tagged.
“I’d never rescued a cat before and love a challenge,” said the 36-year-old dad-of-five from Llwydcoed, who works for RTS Tree Specialists Ltd.
“It was a tricky climb though because the tree, which is as ancient as it is huge, has branches that slope downwards.
“That meant I couldn’t use my normal method of throwing a rope over them and hoisting myself up.”
However, Mike opted to secure himself to the trunk and employed spiked shoes to aid in his ascent. It was only when he had reached three-quarters of the way up that he realized the tree bifurcated into three distinct sections near its top.
“The cat was moving back and forth between the three parts, at which point I noticed there was a huge nest up there – most probably a squirrel’s.
“So it’s likely that’s what Willow was chasing and why she ended up where she did.
“My biggest worry was she’d see me, panic and fall, so I made sure there were people standing around the base of the tree with bed sheets ready to catch her.
“But, luckily, she actually started coming towards me instead, so I popped her in a laundry bag I’d brought from home and got her down.”
As for Willow, she remains happily oblivious to all the commotion she stirred up.
Meghan said: “Once inside she gobbled some food and fell fast asleep on my son’s bed,”
“She was flat out for the rest of the day.”
