Cat’s two-day chimney ordeal ends well, but it took some doing

It makes a change from a cat being stuck up a tree. But for the owners it was no less traumatic.

Oreo scampered up the chimney at his home in Northend Road, Erith, after being scared by the sound of a vacuum cleaner.

And no matter how much the worried owners tried to coax their beloved pet down, they could not manage it. Cue the distress signal to the London Fire Brigade.

Sub Officer Ryan Senior-Ellison, speaking on what is, coincidentally, National Pet Day in the UK, said: “Oreo the cat had been stuck in the chimney for two days.

“His owners were getting increasingly worried when he wouldn’t come down from the chimney after racing up there when the hoover was turned on.

“Bexley and Greenwich Red Watch crews worked extremely hard to release Oreo, utilising various specialist pieces of equipment to rescue the trapped cat including our fire rescue unit and 32m turntable ladder.

“In the end, thanks to the crews’ hard work and fantastic efforts, Oreo was reunited with his owner.”

In all, it took about three hours for the crews to save Oreo when they visited on March 29.

One fire engine, a fire rescue unit and a 32-metre turntable ladder from Bexley and Greenwich fire stations attended the scene.

A London Fire Brigade spokesman said: “Firefighters love animals, too, and we are ready, willing and able to assist distressed or injured animals.

“The last thing we want is for people to put themselves at risk rescuing an animal themselves – but we do encourage people to call the RSPCA in the first instance and we will assist if our specialist equipment is required, as in this case.”

Pictured top: Oreo being rescued by firefighter Jon Taylor (Picture: LFB)