The cat, Angel, appeared to be none the worse for its ordeal, the Austin American-Statesman reported. Owner Ellen Gold took it to the vet for a check-up after its release.

The cat was 70 or 80 feet down the pipe. One firefighter, Jose Jaramillo, used a skateboard to get into the pipe and retrieve 6-month-old Angel and was then pulled out by other firefighters.

The operation took most of the day. Gold offered to donate the skateboard to the Fire Department in case it is needed for another cat rescue.