Curiosity almost got the better of a daredevil cat stranded on a 60ft-high ledge on a building. After going missing overnight, Chio was eventually spotted nestling into a window corner after he escaped from an apartment in Salford last week.
He had spent the night napping on the dangerously-high ledge on Wilton Place, off the A6 Chapel Street, and firefighters were called in to bring him down safely.
Emily Davis, who was looking after Chio for a friend, contacted the RSPCA in distress and an inspector arrived at the scene, who alerted Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service. The fire crew first put up a ladder and tried to coax the frightened cat over with food.
RSPCA inspector Jessica Araujo said: "The ledge was next to a large glass window and Chio was desperately trying to get in through it, but unfortunately the window didn't open.
"The angle was really difficult and the crew eventually made the decision to come back down after fearing Chio was going to jump if they reached over. He kept stretching his front paws as though he wanted to jump so they backed off.”
Firefighters abandoned their attempts to reach him by ladder - so a cherry picker was called in.
Insp Araujo said: "The second crew went up with a cat carrier in the cherry picker and were thankfully able to reach Chio and bring him back down to safety.
"The poor lady who was looking after Chio was distraught. She said the flat had a balcony and roof garden area that the cat went out on all the time and he had never wandered off before.
"The apartment Chio lives in is on the other side of the building, so he'd roamed quite far away from home. He really picked his moment to go wandering, the weather was horrific. It was really cold and it had been hail storming and raining whilst he was out on that ledge.
"Situations like these really demonstrate the excellent relationship we have with the emergency services and what can be achieved when organisations work together for animal welfare."
Chio is now recovering from his ordeal with his owner.
Emily said: "I want to say a massive thank you to the fire and rescue teams and to the RSPCA inspector who helped bring Chio down safely.
"I was so distressed at the time I could only think of getting Chio back safely. I'm so relieved to have him back and that he is okay."
An RSPCA spokesman said: "Often if a cat is stuck up a tree, or on a roof, they are usually able to get themselves back down again. Unless there are severe weather conditions, the cat appears injured or hurt, or the cat is at an impossible height such as this one, the RSPCA advises that people monitor the situation for 24 hours and try coaxing them down with smelly treats or fish."
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