We’re all looking for good news stories these days, the kind with happy endings. As a journalism teacher and former journalist, I love these stories that show the kindness of strangers, often in our own neighborhoods, but we don’t always get to hear about them.

This one started a couple of days ago with a post on the East Sacramento Nextdoor neighborhood website and unfolded just as you see it here.  (I have lightly edited the following posts only for privacy reasons, but left them as they originally appeared):

Dec. 4:
My friends daughter has been hearing a cat crying for 3-4 days. She finally figured out it was up in a tree. It’s about 10 feet higher than the roof of her two story apartment building. She called the fire dept and can’t find anyone to help. It’s at xxxx Riverside blvd sac xxxxx apt xxx. Go to the door and someone will show you where the cat is. The kid’s name is B. that lives there. His number is xxx-xxx-xxxx. Does anyone own a truck with a boom or know a tree trimmer that can help? Please let me know if you can help. xxx-xxx-xxxx. Thank you.

Linda, Woodlake:
Oh I just get a pit in my stomach about the troubles cats often find themselves in….are there folks who really care for cats that can network together in the attempts needed to go forward???

Patti, River Park:
That’s what you r hoping for. This poor baby is probably scared to death. It’s been crying for days.

Inna, River Park:
Have you tried contacting councilman xx’s office? He /his staff should at least know whom to call or if it is the fire department they may have more luck getting them to come out.

Karen, East Sac:
Maybe call SMUD, PG&E, Comcast. Maybe they could help if they have someone in the neighborhood.

Patti, River Park:
I’m sure (the councilman’s) office won’t answer. I’ll try PG&E and SMUD.

Gabriel, East Sac:
The local FD didn’t help? In addition to the above recommendations (SMUD, Comcast, etc.), try calling an arborist.

Patti:
Local FD said no.

Nadia, Campus Commons:
If you could get a carpet or fabric covered board or ladder from the roof to one of the branches (like described at the website someone shared above) the kitty will likely get down on its own. Food and water will be a good lure. Poor baby.

Patricia, East Sac:
I would also have people you know with a Face Book Page Post this on their page to increase the chances of finding a construction guy with a lift to help!! I have a friend who lives in McKinley Park who owns a window washing company and maybe he has something to get up there! I’ll let you know in the morning! Poor little kitty! 😻😻😘😘

Maggie, Sierra Oaks West:
It’s gonna start raining also tomorrow I believe.

Patricia, East Sac:
Like the ladies above suggested, I would also call several Arborists ASAP! We’ve got to get that baby out of the tree before the rain starts!!

Joseph, East Sac:
Throw a rock or shoot a gun in the air…it’ll come down and it’ll be fine. Not even joking, I’m reading all of the other suggestions and they don’t seem to be working too well.

Patricia, East Sac:
Joseph, after a cat has been stuck in a tree for more than 2 days they become dehydrated and weak so even if you throw a rock or shot a gun off they usually won’t come down if they don’t have the strength to do so

Dec. 5:

Marsha, Elmhurst:
In 2003, Dan Kraus started this website www2.catinatreerescue.com. If you need help rescuing your cat, there is a directory of climbers with locations around the world, committed to rescuing cats stuck in trees (See the Directory). Kraus has built this directory to extend the emergency arboreal feline rescue service he offers to cat owners around the world.

Tammy, Campus Commons:
In the link provided by Marsha, it looks like there is someone in Granite Bay who might be able to help.

Beth, East Sac:
there are lots of stories online about cats in Sacramento stuck in trees being rescued by tree trimming companies or arborists. Along with Ken Speck on the website mentioned above, if someone can google some local companies and call them first thing in the morning that’d be good. One company, xxx xxxx xxxxx, has helped before so they’re worth a call at xxx-xxx-xxxx. They open at 8am if someone can call.

Kathy, East Sac:
One of the news stations has a “Call for Action” service. Maybe make them one of your calls. Our taxes just don’t go as far as they used to as when you COULD call the firehouse or the city (they have tree trimming equipment) for help.

Val, East Sac:
I’ll see if my husband can come over. He is a rock climber with a tall ladder.

Emily, River Park:
PG&E only serves gas in Sacramento. They won’t have any locally available boom trucks and they wouldn’t be able to assist anyway.

Patti, River Park:
Ken Speck is supposed to be there around noonish to help. Thanx to Patricia! ❤❤❤

Patricia, East Sac:
Val-has your husband headed over yet? Call me at xxx-xxx-xxxx. Patti is working today so I’m intervening for her! I called Ken Speck at Granite Bay cat rescue and he’s on a job right now but is coming out this afternoon or tonight. I told him the kitty has been there for 3-4 days now, is most likely dehydrated, malnourished and very weak, plus we have the rain coming so please ♥️hurry, and he said he’ll be out as FAST as he can! He was a very sincere and kind hearted man!! 😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻💕💕💕😻😻😻😻😻

Patricia, East Sac:
Next thing I need to do is arrange for immediate medical care once we get the kitty down bcz he will most likely need to have IV’s put on him ASAP to rehydrate him and the proper food. I read a lot of research last night and it said when kitties are stuck in trees for this long, even if you rescue them, they can most likely die because of the starvation and dehydration they experienced over the period of time while they were stuck. We need PRAYERS 😇people, lots of prayer ❤️for this little 😻guy!! I’ll keep you posted

Danielle, Arden West:
Omg, that cat must be thirsty, starving, and freezing! Call 311, they might be able to point you in the right direction.

Cindy, East Sac:
Was the kitty rescued?

Patti, River Park:
Kitty has not been rescued yet. Patricia is taking the lead on this because I have some appts with a couple elderly folks that I look after. Danielle, Pateicia already said that she’ll be taking kitty to the vet. I’m so thankful for Patricia. Yes Linda, let’s hope this dilemma will turn into a blessing. Prayers up!

Anne, East Sac:
Please keep us posted, I’m following the story.

Patricia, East Sac:
💥💥UPDATE💥💥12:34 pm Tue 12/4/18 Hello neighbors😍 I will be meeting Ken Speck at the rescue site and have made appt to immediately take kitty to the vet once it’s in my arms, to get proper hydration, nourishment, and ♥️care! Apparently they don’t know who the cat belongs to or if he even has an owner. I would like to ask for any donation$ towards the vet costs. If we all pitch in we can cover the cost together and it would be greatly appreciated!! 💥💥Please PM/PRIVATE MESSAGE me and let me know the donation amount you can give and together this kitty will have good care and more love ❤️ than he ever did before he climbed that stinking tree!

Patti, River Park:
Patricia, you are amazing!!! Thank you so much!! I will connect with you for my part of the donation. I really appreciate all your efforts. ❤❤❤

Val, East Sacramento
Husband said he stopped by and couldn’t hear a cat, maybe it got rescued?
Edit: never mind he found her.

UPDATE!!! CAT IS DOWN. THANX TO VAL’S HUSBAND!!!———-Cat stuck in tree for 3-4 days.

Patti, River Park:
Val, tell your husband that he is my hero! If you ever need anything, please dont hesitate to ask. I love you, your husband, and our whole Nextdoor community! ❤❤❤❤❤

Cathy, Woodlake:
Yayyy. Great end of story.

Michelle, East Sac:
But did he get her down?

Patti, River Park:
Yes, cat is down. Patricia is taking it to the vet. Hope we can all chip in to help with expenses. Again, thank you to Val’s husband for getting the kitty down and to Patricia for everything she has done including taking kitty to the vet. Nextdoor rocks!!!

Val, East Sac:
I will pass the messages along to Phil the Cat Rescuer. 🐱🐱🐱

Patricia, East Sac:
💥💥💥Phil is a kitty HERO!!💥💥💥😻♥

Keith, East Sac:
That’s awesome. Glad it had a happy ending!

Patricia, East Sac:
I’m taking the kitty to my vet tomorrow for a check up/exam and to check for a micro chip. My hopes is she has one and we can mend someone’s broken heart bcz their kitty got lost-it would be the BEST ending to this story! Please PM/Private message me to let me know if you would like to donate funds and what the best way for you is to do it bcz we all have such busy schedules. For example one lady is meeting me to drop off her donation. I’m collecting bedding and kitchen/home goods for St. John’s Homeless Shelter this week so I’m out & about all day doing pick Ups, I can also swing by your place on my route we just need to coordinate a day & time!