Cat stuck in a tree? Who you gonna call?
The fire department? Forget about it.
Animal Control? Not even close.
Unleashed: Capital City man helps felines trapped in trees
Cat stuck in a tree? Who you gonna call?
The fire department? Forget about it.
Animal Control? Not even close.
A tree service? Maybe. But, it might be a while and at considerable expense.
You call the Cat Rescue Guy. Really.
Randall Kolb might be the Capital City’s kitty-cat Clark Kent.
He receives catcalls at all hours and speeds off to help citizens in need.
His closet is filled with a helmet, gloves, ropes, carabineers, nets and other specialized gadgetry for climbing and repelling gear.
Still, many of his friends and colleagues hardly suspect the soft-spoken mild-mannered, retired information tech guru, who spent his career behind a desk, would ever be going out on a limb to save lives.
But, over the past year, Kolb has completed 37 rescue missions to save 34 cats (two were repeat offenders) and one very ornery iguana stuck in trees.
While he has no tights, cape or theme song, The Cat Rescue Guy does have his own logo and website. Besides his contact information, the website presents pet owners with simple solutions to try before calling in a professional and what to expect before, during and after rescue.
Oddly enough, Kolb got the idea to become a rescuer when he and his wife needed help themselves. Two days after his retirement, Kolb’s wife discovered a stray cat stuck in a tree near their home. The couple searched for someone to help.
After discovering an online international cat rescuer directory, the couple paid a local affiliate to rescue the cat. Kolb was so impressed, he decided to learn how to do tree rescue himself.
His decision turned out to be fortuitous. The other rescuer has since moved to Georgia and, now, Kolb is the only tree rescuer in Louisiana.
“There’s such a need for it,” Kolb says. “It happens all the time. Cats get stuck in trees. People are helpless to figure out how to get them down. The cats can’t figure it out either.
“I just can’t stand to have that helpless feeling of sitting down on the ground looking at that cat in the tree and not being able to do something about it,” he explains. “Plus, it’s fun to climb trees.”
What has really skyrocketed Kolb into the pantheon of great cat rescuers is not only his commitment but his refusal to accept payment.
“I’m retired [so] I have time to do this,” he says. “All I care about is easing the cat’s suffering and the owner’s suffering, too. It’s a tormented position to be in—to hear your cat crying especially when you’re trying to sleep at night.
“I don’t want to do this for money,” he says. “There are a lot of people who can’t afford to pay anyway. I don’t want them to not call just because they can’t pay. I don’t want the cat to suffer just because someone can’t pay.”
Besides helping those in need, Kolb also wants to increase public awareness about the need to help cats trapped in trees. That means first dismantling the myth that cats can always climb down on their own.
Kolb maintains cats often run up trees to escape predators, which might be anything from a coyote or a kid to another cat.
“Most people don’t even realize that cats can get stuck in trees,” he says. “They think: If they can climb up, they can climb down. Cats have a cruel curse: They have the ability and instinct to climb up but not the knowledge to climb down [safely].”
While some cats jump down or descend in a controlled fashion, Kolb says the majority fall out of tree when they lose their footing, become physically exhausted to hold on or fall asleep. Unfortunately, some don’t survive.
But, luckily for Penelope, Bella, Orangejello and other cats from Baton Rouge to Zachary, Kolb was on the prowl with his climbing gear, cat-friendly attitude and, most importantly, his super power: patience.
Sometimes, rescues take a few days because of weather or scaredy cats who mistakenly think their hero is a predator and climb higher to escape his reach.
“I will stay with there for hours and do whatever it takes to get them down,” Kolb says.
And, now that the cat’s out of the bag with regard to his true identity, this feline friend may find himself up a tree more often. But, he probably won’t mind. Retirement’s for the birds.
If you’re ready to add a feline friend to your family, Cat Haven has many adoptable animals including:
Bobo is a very mellow 6-year-old male kitty. He does well with children, dogs and other cats.
Caesar is a 9-month-old gray-and-white shorthair. Born to a feral mom, he and his siblings were brought to a local shelter and, later, Cat Haven. While young children intimidate him, this great guy does well with teenagers, adults and other cats.
Scout is a 1-year-old Siamese mix. She’s a sweet quiet girl, who was rescued on a busy street corner. She would prefer a quiet home with a nice warm lap for snuggling. Scout does well with other cats.
Camila is a playful ball of fluff. She is cautious around other animals. With a slow introduction, she should adjust well to living with other animals and children.
Prince Harry is a 1-year-old Maine Coon mix. This big, beautiful boy is a love machine. He loves people of all ages and gets along with other cats.
Katy is a 1-year-old calico. She is a loving, curious kitty. Katy is best suited to a home without dogs and has yet to be exposed to children and other cats.
These pets have all been vaccinated, spayed/neutered and FeLeuk/FIV tested. Many other adoptable cats and kittens are available at Cat Haven. Call the shelter to make an appointment at 636-2680.
