Below a towering tree, a family stood with a sheet stretched out in case their cat fell from her spot, stranded high above them.
The cat, Booters, was too wary to come down quickly and needed a slow, patient approach before she would move.
Here's what to know
A TikTok posted by The Dodo (@thedodo) shows cat rescuer Steven Murrow carefully trying to get Booters out of a very tall tree as her family waits underneath with the sheet. Murrow did not rush the rescue.
@thedodo Her entire family was standing below with a sheet ready to catch her 😭 Cat rescuer @Steven Murrow knew suspicious little Booters would need some convincing to come down from this tall tree. Dodo editor Brielle shows us how how he patiently earned her trust and got her safely back to her family. Hosted by @brielle_thedodo Produced by @rebeccathedodo ♬ original sound - The Dodo
Trust seems to have been the deciding factor. The Dodo said Murrow knew "suspicious little Booters would need some convincing to come down from this tall tree."
Animals in frightening situations do not always respond well to pressure, even when the people trying to help are acting out of urgency and care.
More background
Cats may be skilled climbers, but that does not necessarily mean getting down is easy, especially when fear takes over. A high perch can quickly become dangerous if an animal freezes, panics, or becomes too overwhelmed to manage the descent.
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Murrow's approach, as shown in the video, stands in sharp contrast to the frantic energy that often surrounds an animal emergency. While the family prepared for the worst below, he focused on creating enough calm for the cat to make a safe choice.
It also underscores the importance of people with hands-on rescue experience, particularly when an animal's behavior is being driven by fear rather than stubbornness.
The sheet stayed in place below as a precaution, but Booters ultimately came to Murrow because he gained her confidence instead of pushing her.
The Dodo summed up the ordeal in two lines: "Her entire family was standing below with a sheet ready to catch her" as Murrow "patiently earned her trust and got her safely back to her family."
Where can I learn more?
Like Booters' rescue, these stories show how much patience and experience can matter when scared animals are in trouble. They follow firefighters, rescuers, and shelter staff as they bring frightened cats to safety.
• Colorado Springs firefighters brought both down safely after a woman climbed 50 feet for her cat.
• Beaufort firefighters brought a cat named Johnny Cash down after he got stranded high in a tree.
• In the woods, a rescuer found a kitten trapped in a tree after hearing its cries and then saved it.
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