A missing cat which was trapped underneath a block of flats in Dundee for five days has been reunited with its owner.
Residents heard the cat’s cries from the foundations before animal rescue officers discovered Cleo stuck five feet underground and began a rescue. Stephanie Smillie, of the Scottish SPCA, said the 15-year-old Bengal had been there for over five days with no access to food or water.
Fire crews were called to assist before Cleo – who was shaken up but remarkably otherwise unharmed – was pulled to safety from the black hole beneath the flats.
Stephanie said: “We knew we had to do everything in our power to get her out safely. After several attempts to lure Cleo out with food, planks of wood, and rope, we quickly realised she didn’t have enough energy to climb out on her own.
“That’s when the incredible Scottish Fire and Rescue team stepped in. After carefully tearing up some floorboards, they discovered a tiny trap door leading into the foundations from the building’s kitchen. With their help, we were finally able to reach Cleo and free her.
“She was exhausted, but after lots of cuddles, a good meal, and a big drink of water, she was doing much better.”
The rescue team were then faced with another challenge when they scanned her microchip to find it was outdated, listing an address in England.
But Stephanie said: “We weren’t ready to give up. Thanks to the power of social media, we managed to track down Cleo’s owner, who turned out to live just a few streets away. This is a rescue mission we’ll never forget.”
Cleo’s owner Arlene Connor was delighted to have her back home safe. She said: “Cleo had been missing for four weeks and with the weather being so cold, I feared for the worst. We had posted missing appeals for Cleo on social media and were overjoyed to receive the phone call that she had been found.
“When she first came home, she was always by my side and needed extra reassurance but she’s now getting better and is eating and drinking well. I’m taking her to the vets for a check-up and whilst there’s a long way to go until Cleo’s back to normal, I’m just so glad to have her home.”