Last week, Matt Bauman spent two hours in a tree with a can of tuna and a lot of patience. Attempting to entice a tired, cold cat toward him—over 80 feet above the ground—took up more than half of that time.
Savage had been up in the poplar tree for approximately two weeks, enduring bitter cold and going without food or water. As Baumann waited to put him in a bag, he appeared to be drifting off to sleep from exhaustion.
Although they don’t typically reach so high, Baumann informs Daily Paws that they are skilled climbers. It’s the getting down that gives them trouble, not the getting up.
He has been operating Baumann Tree Service in the Knoxville, Tennessee, region for the past 12 years. In his spare time, he spends it rescuing cats—so many that he “could write a book” from them.
It required several attempts to save Savage, who Baumann and his crew had given the moniker Jingle. When Savage ascended too high for Baumann to reach him on December 22nd, the first effort failed, and when Baumann tried again the next day, Savage was still too high in the tree.
Christmastime brought with it bitter cold, too cold for Baumann to continue the rescue. Despite being too high, Baumann ascended once more on December 28th, carrying as many supplies as possible.
It took the tuna a long to do its effect, even when he made it up there. Baumann takes his time to “let them know I don’t mean any harm” during rescue operations. It’s my responsibility to deliver them to the ground safely.”
Fighting against fatigue, Savage finally moved in the direction of Baumann and his empty rope bag, also known as the cat delivery method.
It took over an hour to wait, but once Savage was in reach, it was simple. It was not difficult for Baumann to carefully get him into the sack and bring him down since he was so exhausted, hungry, and thirsty. Savage was finally back on the ground after spending two weeks in the tree.
“I felt like it was time,” states Baumann. “I was like, ‘I got to get (him) down.'”
How Savage managed to climb almost eighty feet up the tree is a mystery, but after he was back on the ground, he appeared to be doing surprisingly well. After seeing his appreciative owners again, he was examined by a veterinarian. Although he had mild frostbite, his blood testing was otherwise normal. Before leaving for his house, he was dewormed and given some current vaccinations.
Although it was one of the biggest cat rescues Baumann had ever done, the self-described dog lover will undoubtedly undertake more cat rescues in the future. He’ll have to make do with keeping his three cats—Phantom, Bandit, and kitten Midnight—confined to his house until the next one comes along.