Cat on roof!?

Question

In the street where I own a business there are wild cats. I look after them, tame them, find good homes for them, or keep them myself. I've been looking after a kitten for three months and I think she's about six months. She'll come to me for food but won't let me touch her. She's been stuck on a roof for four days and I don't know what to do. There's a tree and a wall near the roof and I think she should be able to get down. I given food and water to her and tried in vain to get her to come to me. The roof is part plastic so I can't get up. People have said that I shouldn't feed her or give water so she'll come down. This is Spain and it's quite warm and I'm afraid she'll weaken if no water is given. She's sooo distressed and I don't know what to do. In the UK I'd ring the RSPCA for advice but over here I feel like I'm alone. Any genuine advice or numbers to ring in Spain for help would be wonderful. Thanks

Answer 1

Hi there, I really feel for you and this poor little kitty. I just had a look on the RSPCA website and on there they have a list of international associates in Spain (I have posted the direct link below).

Four days is a long time and so it seems to me that she is not able to get down by herself. If you feel that you cannot get to the roof yourself, call the fire brigade who should be able to get up there more safely. If you can reach her reach the roof to put a bowl of food and water up there, I think you should try it. At least that way she will have something to eat and drink if she won't let you rescue her.

I hope you manage to get her down - let me know what happens.

xx Emmie

Answer 2

What a lovely, lovely lady you are, to be doing this great work. I don't know much about cats, but have studied canine behaviour. If the cat can get down the tree, then she has an escape route. I can't think why she won't come down. What is the possibility that something has scared her traumatically, that maybe you don't know about?
Can you leave food and water for her a bit further down - lower down on the tree, or on the wall? So she can see it, but has to make a move down to get it? She will come down of her own accord, your friends may be right - she will come down eventually, if she's able, once she's hungry! She's got a wild nature remember. She can cope on her own, she's not domesticated.

Answer 3

Ahhh Sunny Spain. But kitty needs help !!!
I would continue providing fresh water, some food, and even try to throw a cardboard box on the roof to provide some shade/shelter.
Have you checked if there is no access to the roof from inside the building with the people who live in that building? From where you could entice the cat to come down from inside. If it is too dangerous to rescue the cat yourself, indeed call the fire station or hire a strong Hidalgo with a big ladder ! "Por favor, Senor, podria usted ayudar me con el povrecito gato que no puede descender del tetcho? Muchas gracias por su amabilidad." (Please Sir, could you help me with the poorly kitty who cannot climb down the roof? Many thanks for your kindness.)
No joking, the cat must feel lonely up there. Hope you can rescue her. All the best.

Answer 4

That's the interesting thing about cats. They'll run up a tree or onto a roof, stay up there for days hollering, resist all attempts to retrieve them, and eventually come down by themselves when you've given up. Perhaps you could place water up on the roof for the cat, but place the food on the ground as inspiration for leaving the roof.

Answer 5

Is she close enough for you to use a toy, or a bit of string to get her play and come to you that way. You certainly have to get her down somehow, can you see if she is injured in anyway.. found the address below, its a spanish Cats Rescue org, but its all in German so not sure what it says... but there is a contact, and the second one is also in Spain,

I have 4 rescues myself so I know how you feel x

Answer 6

Try placing the water and food in large dishes (so she obviously sees them) at the base of the tree. Hopefully, she'll get the idea tohop down herself.

Answer 7

When cats are inexperienced they find it easy to go up; then when they turn round lose their confidence about coming down.
She probably can't see how to get down, the route isn't obvious. She'd probably manage if she gets hungry and thirsty enough, so you could try leaving food and water on the wall. (not where she needs to land!)
Or try leaving a ladder for her to use.

Answer 8

Have you tried placing something like a plank as a runway from where she is to a window (open!) or any other easy route to the ground?

Answer 9

try moving the food away, further each time so she has to make a move to get fed. what about putting a large board on the roof to support you! good luck.

Answer 10

cats have there own basic insticts if it could get up on to your roof then it could get back down easily