Firefighter descends into 6-inch gap to rescue kitten trapped between buildings in England

A 15-week-old kitten in eastern England sparked a rescue operation that sounded more like a movie scene than a household mishap. Rescuing her required a firefighter to be lowered into a gap as narrow as 6 inches.

The tiny escape artist, Purdy, had fallen about 8 feet between two buildings after pushing open a kitchen window, and the firefighter who reached her came prepared with a bag of treats.

Here's what to know

According to BBC News, Purdy escaped from a first-floor home in Chatteris, Cambridgeshire, around 2 a.m. BST after pushing further open a window that had been left ajar in the hot weather.

For hours, Kate Feltwell and her husband tried to handle the situation themselves, tying bedding together and lowering it into the gap in hopes that their kitten would climb up. Feltwell said the setup looked "like a scene from a bad prison escape," but it still did not work.

Two crews responded just before 9 a.m., Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service said. The couple had called after Purdy went quiet, and officials said the crews used rope rescue skills to rescue the kitten.

Purdy was safely reunited with her owners after a firefighter climbed down from a neighboring roof and reached her with a bag of treats.

More background

Purdy had only recently joined the household and was usually kept indoors. The window she got through had been left open by about an inch because of the heat.

Young cats are especially curious and agile, which can make upper-floor windows, balconies, and narrow exterior spaces unexpectedly dangerous. In this case, the gap between the buildings narrowed to about 6 inches in places, so the owners could hear their kitten but could not reach her.

Purdy's rescue ended well, but the situation could easily have led to injury, dehydration, or a much longer ordeal.

What can be done?

Window screens, mesh guards, and secure latches can make a difference, especially during warm weather, when homes are more likely to be aired out.

After the ordeal, Feltwell said she bought a mesh screen to fit over the window because Purdy was already trying to get back out. For kittens and newly adopted pets, extra supervision around open windows is important as they adjust to a new home.

Taking risks to reach a pet trapped in a narrow or elevated space can hurt the animal or the rescuer. Improvised solutions may help in some situations, but when access is dangerous or limited, calling trained responders is often the safer option.

Keeping treats, carriers, and familiar items nearby can also help calm an animal during a stressful situation. In Purdy's case, a bag of food became an unlikely but effective rescue tool.

Still amazed by how much effort the crews put into the call, Feltwell said: "They went above and beyond anything I could ever have expected and we are so, so grateful."

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