Vigil for stricken cat

A cat got stuck 50 feet up a tall tree in a Shropshire town sparking a two-day vigil by animal lovers worried about the stricken animal's welfare.

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A small crowd kept vigil beside the tree in Jubilee Park, Whitchurch, after the poor puss got stranded near the top late on Tuesday.

Today, the little black cat, nicknamed Unlucky by one onlooker, was still stuck in the tree despite the efforts of passers-by to tempt it down with food.

One man even swung into action and attempted to reach the marooned moggy's lofty perch using a ladder, but was unsuccessful.

Resident Mabel Bancroft, 90, said: "Apparently the cat got stuck up there at about 5pm on Tuesday but I didn't know until 8am yesterday. Everybody has been ringing the fire service but they said they wouldn't come as the case needs to be referred to them by the RSPCA.

"I'm an animal lover so I put some food out to entice it down but it's still up there in the treetops and it's a very tall tree.

"He's stuck about three quarters of the way up the poor little thing. I don't know what he's called but I've been calling him Puss Puss."

Another spectator, who asked not to be named, said the cat had been wailing and miaowing throughout its ordeal.

She added: "You'd think in this day and age there would be a better system for the authorities to deal with situations like this."

One theory suggested by onlookers is that the cat was chased up the tree by some dogs.

Helen Coen, RSPCA spokeswoman, said years of experience had taught them that cats can panic and fall or even climb higher when rescue attempts are made.

But she said most cats find their own way down when they get hungry.