Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
EmailIphone Application    Posted: 4th January 2024
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.
Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

Tree surgeon saves cat from 60ft tree
The RSPCA feared they would be unable to rescue Princess until the next morning, 48 hours after she had gone up there.
The RSPCA called him in after rescue officers’ attempts failed.

A tree surgeon has rescued a stranded cat after it became stuck in a 60ft high fir tree in Cambridgeshire.

Seth Masters, who owns Iceni Tree Care in Norfolk, was called in by the RSPCA after fire and rescue officers were unable to scale the conifer.

Princess the cat was found in the tree on Friday 22 December, when the rescue charity was called to save her. The rescue officers discovered Princess almost at the top of the tree, and contacted the fire and rescue service.

When the fire and rescue team arrived on the scene, they could not mount their ladders against the tree due to the height of the tree and limited access to the garden.

The RSPCA feared they would be unable to rescue Princess until the next morning, 48 hours after she had gone up there.

However Mr Masters answered the charity’s calls for help and offered his climbing skills to retrieve the feline. He carried out a rope rescue, using his tree-climbing equipment to climb the swaying fir tree and lower Princess down in a rope bag to waiting RSPCA inspector Justin Stubbs.

The RSPCA advises cat owners to give their cat time to climb down from trees themselves, or tempt them with food or smelly treats, before contacting a rescue team.

If the cat stays stuck up the tree for over 24 hours, the weather conditions are bad, or the cat is injured or young, then cat owners should contact 0300 1234 999. The RSPCA may need to contact the fire and rescue service if necessary, and fire office may use the situation for training purposes.

Owners may be asked to contact a tree surgeon if the RSPCA is unable to get someone to the cat.

RSPCA inspector Justin Stubbs said: “The RSPCA can't thank Seth enough as this was a very high and technical rescue, which without his genuine expertise the cat may have had to stay up there for at least another day.

“With it being Christmas and it being an urgent rescue, Seth said he wasn’t even going to charge the RSPCA for his work, which was a great gesture.”

Image © RSPCA

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
RCVS pays tribute to well-loved equine vet

The RCVS and the Riding Establishments Subcommittee has paid tribute to well-loved veterinary surgeon and riding establishment inspector, Rebecca Hamilton-Fletcher MRCVS.

Linda Belton MRCVS, RCVS President, said: "I, along with my colleagues on the RESC, RCVS Council, RCVS Standards Committee, as well as RCVS staff, was very saddened to hear of the sudden death of Rebecca, or Becca as we knew her, last week.

"She was a true advocate for equine welfare and in her many years on the RESC worked to continually improve the quality and consistency of riding establishment inspections, all in the interests of enhanced horse welfare and rider safety."