We all know how much cats love to climb to high places. Whether it’s because they’re pursuing prey, fleeing from danger, or indulging their natural curiosity, it’s common for cats to find themselves stuck up a tree. Unfortunately, problems arise when you want the cat to come back down but don’t have a ladder.
To get a cat down from a tall tree, survey the area and remove what caused the cat to ascend the tree. Use toys, food, and conversation to guide the cat to a safe route with a padded area beneath. Alternatively, hoist a cat carrier into the tree on a rope, tempt the cat inside, and bring it down.
Never force a cat to descend a tree, as it may climb higher or injure itself. Cats get stuck in trees because they’re not as good at climbing down as they are at climbing up as the angle of their claws is unfavorable during the descent. Make the cat feel safe about maneuvering from one branch to another until it can safely reach the ground.
Why Do Cats Get Stuck in Trees?
Cats climb up trees to explore and play. However, once up there, they may get stuck as the cat:
- Climbed too high and can’t figure out how to retrace its steps
- Has claws designed for climbing up a tree, but not for climbing down a tree
- Lacks a safe place to land
Climbing a tree is an easy feat for a cat. According to the Journal of Anatomy, cats’ claws are designed so that, once they’re extended, they pull the cat forward. This makes it easy for cats to whiz up a tree in no time, but problems can arise when the cat wants to get down.
Cats don’t usually climb down from surfaces. You’ll almost certainly have noticed that your cat tends to jump off any high place it’s reached rather than climbing down.
That’s because cats have trouble coordinating their hind and front feet movement. Once a cat has climbed a tree and thinks it’s too high to jump, it may be too scared to climb down and get stuck.
Alternatively, a cat may get stuck because a predatorial animal, such as a dog, chased it up the tree, so it’ll fear coming back down and facing that threat a second time.
Cats are cautious animals that may refuse to descend, even after the threat has gone. Cats used to being indoors are more likely to face this problem than cats that spend most of their time outdoors.
How To Tell If A Cat Is Stuck In A Tree
Cats enjoy climbing trees and will usually come down on their own.
However, you’ll know that your cat is stuck and needs help if it:
- Stays in the tree for several hours
- Appears distressed, meowing and yowling
- Repeatedly paces on a branch
- Tries to jump and appears to think better of it
Cats may be able to land on their feet, but they know they can get hurt if they jump from too great a distance.
This can leave your cat stuck in the tree for hours, eventually succumbing to exhaustion, hunger, and dehydration. At this point, it may fall from the tree or stay up there too long and get sick.
What to Do If A Cat is Stuck In A Tree
Even if you have a ladder, it may not be wise to use it, especially without a carrier. A cat is likely to squirm in your arms as you descend, causing you to fall or drop the cat. It may also scratch you in its panic as you bring it down.
Don’t Scare or Force the Cat
If your cat is stuck in a tree, it’s probably scared and nervous. Forcing it to come down or scaring it will agitate it even more, so it needs to come down of its own volition.
Ensure your cat wants to come down before trying to bring it down. You may be causing it even more trouble if you bring it down when it’s climbed a tree to get some peace and quiet or if it’s hunting or hiding.
If you’re sure that the cat wants to come down, make its descent safe.
Survey The Area
Check the area around the tree for predators or dangers before bringing your cat down. This may provide some insight into why your cat climbed the tree in the first place.
It may have been chased around by another animal or scared by loud machinery operating in the area. If these threats remain present, your cat will refuse to descend. To get the cat to come down from the tree, clear the area.
You can wait until nightfall when sounds from around your neighborhood, such as passing cars, have calmed down.
Step Away From The Tree
Once you’ve gotten rid of the source of your cat’s troubles, move back. It’s tempting to stand at the bottom of a tree to catch your cat, especially if you’re worried about it, but this is counterproductive.
An anxious cat wants a safe and clear escape route. Your presence may be a hindrance. If too many things crowd the area, your cat will stay put.
Therefore, when your cat shows signs of wanting to climb down, give it the space it needs. Make yourself as small as possible by crouching or sitting on your knees.
If your cat feels in control of the situation, it’s more likely to climb down from the tree on its own.
Make Your Cat Relax
If your cat is already anxious, it’ll get even more on edge if it sees you panicking. Soothe your cat by calling out to it in a calm, even voice.
Use its name and make sure your facial expressions and visual cues don’t indicate fear or panic. If your cat sees that you’re worried, it’ll think it’s right to be afraid and become more hesitant to climb down.
Make The Landing Area Safe
Once your cat is calmer, it’ll want to come down and may start looking for ways to do so. You don’t want your cat to get hurt when it reaches the ground. According to Experimental Neurology, cats have accurate righting reflexes and can land on their feet from great heights.
If the tree is tall and your cat does fall, it’ll have more time to exercise its righting reflex and distribute its weight evenly before it reaches the ground, minimizing the risk of injuries and allowing it to land on its feet.
However, you don’t want to depend on this happening. To ensure your cat is safe, provide soft material for the cat to land on. A mattress or several cushions and blankets are good choices.
Tempt it To Climb Down
Lure the cat down with toys or treats. If your cat has climbed a tree because it was hunting, a toy to spark that same instinct could be invaluable.
Use toys that you know the cat is fond of and cater to its hunting instincts. You can gradually bring your cat down one branch at a time if you dangle them high enough to be enticing but not enough for your cat to reach.
You can lure your cat down from a tree by introducing food that it’s fond of.
Make A Game Out of It
If your cat isn’t tempted down by toys or food, turn the descent into a game with laser pointers. When the laser catches your cat’s attention, you can use it to direct it down a safe path, a few branches at a time.
Find a Cat Carrier
Sometimes, cats refuse to climb down, no matter what you do, because they feel safer in the dark and are waiting for nighttime. You may be tempted to leave food out and go inside if this happens, but this will attract other animals and scare your cat even more. To bring your cat down, you’ll need to trap it in a cat carrier.
By throwing a strong rope over a sturdy branch near where your cat is sitting, you can elevate the carrier. If it has an enticing scent, such as food, your cat may enter the carrier. You can slowly bring the cat carrier back to the ground. This task will require a lot of care since the smallest mistake can result in injury.
Having your cat get stuck in a tree is a common problem, but the above tips will help you bring your cat down to safety without having to use a ladder.
