British Columbia

West End neighbours crowdfund to hire arborist to save cat in tree

The tabby cat is safe, but now the hunt is now on for its owner.

'He didn't put up too much of a fight,' says arborist

Oliver the cat was about 15 metres up the West End tree. (Dillon Hodgin/CBC)

If you live in Vancouver's West End, and have a cat named Oliver, you may want to double check where he is.

That's because one feline named Oliver has quite the tale to tell after being stuck in a neighbourhood tree for two days.
Caitlin Rowe first heard pitiful cries from her West End Vancouver apartment. (Dillon Hodgin/CBC)

Caitlin Rowe first heard pitiful cries Wednesday night from inside her apartment.

She couldn't figure out where they were coming from, so, armed with a bag of a treats, she went searching.

"I was shaking them and finally I end up here to find the cat is all the way up the tree," she said.

The cat  was about 15 metres up a tree — too tall for Rowe to climb.

Oliver is was spotted on a branch near the tip of this West End tree. (Dillon Hodgin/CBC)

With the owner unknown, and after unsuccessful calls to the fire department, 3-1-1 and the SPCA, she and her neighbours took matters into their own hands.

Together, they started a crowdfunding campaign and raised $250 dollars to hire an arborist to get the cat down.Daniel Holliday answered the call to climb and after some coaxing, the cat was in the bag.

Oliver needed a moment to consider whether or not he'd climb into arborist Daniel Holliday's bag. (Dillon Hodgin/CBC)

"He didn't put up too much of a fight," Holliday said.

It turned out the cat had a collar with its name attached, but no contact information.

For Rowe, the rescue was nerve-wracking, "but obviously we had a professional taking care of it."

Oliver's adventure is far from over: the search is now underway to find its owner.

West End neighbours crowdfund to rescue cat in tree

7 years ago
Duration 0:35
Arborist Daniel Holliday answered the call to climb a tree and rescue a cat. Oliver was stuck in the tree for two days.

With files from Brenna Rose