A cat has been rescued by the RSPCA and London Fire Brigade after becoming wedged in a four-inch gap between two houses in Bexleyheath.
Ironically named after the sandwich biscuits, Oreo was discovered stuck in the four inch gap on Pickford Close on Wednesday (25 June). It’s believed he’d been trapped for at least two days.
The London Fire Brigade was initially called to the scene due to the severity of Oreo’s predicament. They called the RSPCA for back up.
Animal Rescue Officer (ARO) Brian Milligan attended the incident. He said: “Poor Oreo was well and truly stuck – he’d been there for a few days and was clearly very distressed.
“He is quite a big cat and he was firmly wedged in the gap. Firefighters used a drill to cut a hole in the garage wall, and after 45 minutes of carefully wriggling him free while ensuring the structure remained stable , he finally became unstuck.
“We often work alongside the fire service in these types of tricky rescues, when special equipment is needed.”
Oreo was pulled to safety by ARO Brian, much to the relief of his anxious owner who was watching the rescue unfold. He was immediately taken to the vet for a check up.
The RSPCA advises that in most cases, cats are able to free themselves from tight spots. Unless the cat appears injured, is in immediate danger, or extreme weather conditions are involved, the public is encouraged to monitor the situation for up to 24 hours and attempt to lure the cat with smelly food such as fish or treats.
Summer should be a season of joy for animals. Long walks on golden evenings. Zoomies on the beach. Stretching out in the garden to soak up the sun. But there’s a side to summer you don’t see. For thousands of animals, it’s a season of pain, fear and suffering, when cruelty peaks. Support the RSPCA’s Summer Cruelty Appeal at: rspca.org.uk/endcruelty
