The rescue cat Tigger, a three-year-old ginger mixed breed cat, found himself in quite a predicament when he climbed to the very top of a dead tree about half a mile from his home in Rochford, Essex. After being missing for nearly a week, his owner Emma Fisher finally discovered his whereabouts when she was notified about a small crowd that had gathered beneath the tree where her beloved pet was stranded.
What followed was an extraordinary rescue mission that brought the community together and formed an unexpected bond between a cat and his rescuer. “It was so sweet, it was like a military operation,” said Fisher, describing the scene of neighbors and concerned citizens who had come together to help save Tigger from his precarious perch.
Former Firefighter Steps Up to Rescue Cat
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Jordan Bailey, a 31-year-old gas engineer who previously served as a firefighter for three years, became aware of Tigger’s situation through multiple tags on social media posts. Despite being told during his firefighting career not to risk rescuing cats from trees, Bailey couldn’t resist helping when he saw the distressed feline.
“I’ve got 10 cats myself and I’m forever climbing trees to rescue them,” Bailey explained, highlighting his personal connection to the plight of trapped cats.
The rescue was particularly challenging as Tigger had climbed to the highest point of a dead tree, making the ascent risky. “So climbing up that was pretty fun,” Bailey remarked with the calm demeanor of someone experienced in such situations.
A Dangerous Rescue Operation Unfolds
Using a triple-extension ladder to reach the tree’s higher branches, Bailey and his helpers attempted to catch Tigger in a net. Witnesses believe the cat may have been stuck in the tree from Sunday morning until Monday afternoon, potentially enduring “more than 32 hours” in his elevated prison.
Fisher expressed concern about her cat’s rescuer throughout the operation. “The tree kept cracking and all the branches were falling,” she recalled, highlighting the danger Bailey faced during the rescue mission.
Despite the risks, Bailey persevered, showing remarkable patience and determination throughout the 24-hour operation to bring Tigger back to safety.
An Emotional Reunion and Newfound Friendship
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What made this rescue particularly heartwarming was the apparent trust that developed between Tigger and his savior. According to Fisher, Tigger clung to Bailey “like a koala bear” during their descent from the tree.
“He held on to him for dear life and I was laughing, everyone was filming it,” Fisher said. “I was like ‘so embarrassing’.”
The story had a happy ending not just for Tigger, but for the whole household. Fisher revealed that Willow, the family’s Shih Tzu, had been crying and pacing during Tigger’s week-long absence. Upon his return, the two pets shared a touching reunion cuddle.
Perhaps most surprisingly, the ordeal has created a lasting connection between Bailey and Tigger. Bailey has promised to visit the cat he rescued, as Fisher noted they had “bonded up the tree” during their time together.
Fisher expressed her profound gratitude to Bailey: “I want to thank him from the bottom of my heart – for my daughter as well – if it wasn’t for him we wouldn’t have our baby home.”
This remarkable rescue story serves as a reminder of the compassion that exists in communities and the special relationships that can form between humans and animals, even in the most unusual circumstances.
