It wouldn't be summer without a cat getting up to a little mischief! But 'Lofty' the cat decided to go one step further!
On Wednesday 2 July, UK Power Network was called out for a particularly peculiar issue, when 'Lofty' the cat found themself stranded on the top of an electricity pole near Tonbridge in Kent.
Concerned residents in Marle Place Road, Brenchley, spotted the cat stuck behind an electricity transformer and called for help. UK Power Networks’ team arrived on the scene to find Lofty precariously perched near live equipment. Despite attempts to coax it down, the frightened feline climbed even higher to ten metres. The situation grew more dangerous as the cat neared the 11,000-volt power lines, prompting the team to cut off the electricity supply to ensure a safe rescue.
Robert Fitton, a first responder at UK Power Networks, explained: “I climbed up but couldn’t reach the cat. It held onto the pole, then ran further up like a bear and sat on the top. It wasn’t the friendliest cat, holding on to anything he could get his claws into. It was frightened but eventually I got it out from the back of the transformer onto the metalwork.”
Engineer Ashley Greagsby added: “The cat was very happy just sitting there, but if it had wagged its tail too far to the right, it would have been electrocuted. It didn’t realise the danger it was in and had even climbed through barbed wire.”
Lofty, believed to be young and possibly scared up the pole by something, was eventually saved. Ashley added: “Once the cat was back on the ground, it took a last look up the pole as if to say ‘thank you’ and ran off. The owner probably doesn’t know it happened.”
The team’s action not only saved the cat but also prevented a potential high-voltage circuit trip that could have caused a longer power outage.