Belacqua Posted August 9, 2014 Share Posted August 9, 2014 So I was all set to take my cat to the sitter, which does intake only for the next hour and a half. Cat, not wanting to go, wedged herself through a fireplace vent and is now deep inside the fireplace (not accessible except through tiny, though evidently not too tiny for a determined cat, vents). I really need to get her out. I've tried ignoring. She's onto me. I've tried snacks, I've tried annoying her with noise and a spray bottle of water. I'm not even sure where, exactly, she is in the catacombs of my fireplace. I'm kind of desperate. Does anybody have any cat retrieval ideas I haven't thought of? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dana Posted August 9, 2014 Share Posted August 9, 2014 With snacks, you've done smelly things like canned cat food or tuna? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flowing Brook Posted August 9, 2014 Share Posted August 9, 2014 I second the tuna. Put a bowl of tuna out and then walk out of sight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingersmom Posted August 9, 2014 Share Posted August 9, 2014 Maybe the fire department can help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted August 9, 2014 Share Posted August 9, 2014 First, I would call the sitter and explain the situation. Perhaps she might make an exception on the intake times in this case and will help alleviate the time stress at any rate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belacqua Posted August 9, 2014 Author Share Posted August 9, 2014 Tuna is worth a shot. She usually eschews all but kibble and these weird little treats (Greenies), but it couldn't hurt to try a classic. And good idea, Jean. I will see if we can do a later dropoff. Tell me I'll laugh about this someday. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
applethyme Posted August 9, 2014 Share Posted August 9, 2014 Tuna, it works everytime. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneStepAtATime Posted August 9, 2014 Share Posted August 9, 2014 No suggestions besides the tuna and the phone call to the sitter but definitely big hugs and hoping it all works out... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted August 9, 2014 Share Posted August 9, 2014 You'll laugh about it some day. And I say this as someone whose cat once got stuck inside a wall. We'd had a water leak and the plumbers cut out part of the ceiling so they could fix it. The cat decided to check out this mysterious new place and somehow ended up stuck way down inside one of the walls. Let's just say we ended up having holes in the ceiling and in the wall by the time we were finally able to pinpoint her location and get her out of there. I was worried sick, but when we finally got her out, she was perfectly fine and did that too-cool-for-school cat thing where they pretend they meant to do it all along. :glare: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starr Posted August 9, 2014 Share Posted August 9, 2014 When I was a child my mom had to reach up and pull our cat out of the fireplace. He had fallen or jumped from the roof into the chimney. Can we say soot!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belacqua Posted August 9, 2014 Author Share Posted August 9, 2014 Oh, gracious. I'm pretty sure she isn't stuck, at least. Just stubborn. She's lucky she's cute. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creekland Posted August 9, 2014 Share Posted August 9, 2014 We've always gotten obstinate or escaped cats by pretending we are feeding them the plain old normal way we feed them. They are suspicious of treats or anything outside of normal, but getting a kibbles bag down and feeding them where they are used to being fed seems to work all the time - as long as "we" don't act abnormally doing it. We feed and walk away - they come to see what we put in the bowl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted August 9, 2014 Share Posted August 9, 2014 Did she come out yet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmrich Posted August 9, 2014 Share Posted August 9, 2014 We had a cat crawl into a box spring. She tore a hole in the bottom...wet cat food did the trick but it was not easy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoobie Posted August 9, 2014 Share Posted August 9, 2014 My first kitty crawled into a tiny hole in the baseboard beside the dishwasher in my apartment right after I let her out of the Humane Society cardboard box. I had to pull out the dishwasher to get her. I named after dishwasher detergent. She liked to hide in obscure places sometimes. She was the best kitty! I hope yours is out and you got her to the sitter's. Yes, you'll laugh about this someday! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belacqua Posted August 9, 2014 Author Share Posted August 9, 2014 So she's still in there. I've completely scuttled tomorrow's plans so that IF she comes out I can get her to the sitter tomorrow. And if she still hasn't come out by then? No clue. I've got nothing past Plan C. *whimper* Thanks for the advice and good vibes, everybody. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted August 9, 2014 Share Posted August 9, 2014 So she's still in there. I've completely scuttled tomorrow's plans so that IF she comes out I can get her to the sitter tomorrow. And if she still hasn't come out by then? No clue. I've got nothing past Plan C. *whimper* Thanks for the advice and good vibes, everybody. As long as she's not stuck in there, she will probably come out during the night. Make sure you hide her carrier so she doesn't think you're planning to take her anywhere! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starr Posted August 9, 2014 Share Posted August 9, 2014 Ours was stuck on a ledge with a steep but not high drop. Good luck. I hope she gets out tonight! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsquirrel Posted August 9, 2014 Share Posted August 9, 2014 So my dh, who is a vet's son and grew up with all kinds of animals and has the best crazy animal stories has the perfect solution but it isn't for the faint of heart: I read your post to him and he said "Well, my dad would light a fire in the fireplace." and FTR, I really think his dad would do that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belacqua Posted August 9, 2014 Author Share Posted August 9, 2014 As long as she's not stuck in there, she will probably come out during the night. Make sure you hide her carrier so she doesn't think you're planning to take her anywhere! That's what we're hoping. We're all walking around nonchalantly, practically singing, "Doo de doo...nothing unusual here..perfectly ordinary evening...". Unfortunately, while she's not the brightest animal, she does have a powerful sense of About to Be Picked Up. The other cat is loving this, having been sprung from her carrier (as the sitter was a no-go today) and getting extra snacks, as we were hoping the sound of her eating them would incite jealousy in Fireplace Cat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belacqua Posted August 9, 2014 Author Share Posted August 9, 2014 So my dh, who is a vet's son and grew up with all kinds of animals and has the best crazy animal stories has the perfect solution but it isn't for the faint of heart: I read your post to him and he said "Well, my dad would light a fire in the fireplace." and FTR, I really think his dad would do that. Don't think we haven't considered it! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dana Posted August 9, 2014 Share Posted August 9, 2014 Oh, :grouphug: Good luck tomorrow! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happi duck Posted August 9, 2014 Share Posted August 9, 2014 Hope Fireplace Kitty comes out soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belacqua Posted August 9, 2014 Author Share Posted August 9, 2014 Happy update! Fireplace Kitty emerged sometime last night (you guys were absolutely right about just leaving her alone). At 5:30 this morning she was sitting on the couch, looking sheepish. The fireplace is now blocked with pillows and math books. Thanks, all. Your advice and hidden cat stories helped enormously. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happi duck Posted August 9, 2014 Share Posted August 9, 2014 Happy update! Fireplace Kitty emerged sometime last night (you guys were absolutely right about just leaving her alone). At 5:30 this morning she was sitting on the couch, looking sheepish. The fireplace is now blocked with pillows and math books. Thanks, all. Your advice and hidden cat stories helped enormously. :) Hurray!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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