A family from the Limburg municipality of Dilsem-Stockem breathed a huge sigh of relief on Thursday after their cat was finally rescued from a tree where it had been stuck for almost a week. Repeated attempt by the Fire Service, the Nature Assistance Centre and a profession tree climber had failed to get Luna the cat down from the tree. Her owners were at their wits' end.
On Thursday a second professional tree climber was finally able to catch Luna and bring her down from the tree. It wasn’t an easy task, but now Luna is back home recovering from her ordeal.
Luna’s owner Eser Melis Özmen told VRT News that “She is doing really well actually. She was above thirsty, and she had a couple of ticks in her fur. I have already taken them out. In the evening, she went to her brother and sister and they slept together”.
On Thursday Frederik Thoelen of the Nature Assistance Centre told VRT Radio 2 Limburg that there was no need to panic as cats can survive several days without food and “If their feeling of hunger become greater than their fear they will come down from the tree under their own steam”.
Mr Thoelen also said that it was best to be as quiet as possible in the vicinity of the tree. Fire engines and people standing around the tree looking at the cat would make the animals even more scared.
He added that "It is a good idea that Luna’s owners stay near tot the tree so that they can take care of her straight away when she comes down. Otherwise, there is a chance that she will become scared again and run off”.