AUCKLAND, New Zealand, Dec. 23 (UPI) -- A kitten in New Zealand wound up taking a "leap of faith" after animal rescue and fire crews attempted to rescue it from a tall palm tree.
Cat rescue association Lonely Miaow found the kitten crying in the top of a "very VERY tall" palm tree after receiving a call and asking neighbors about the stranded cats whereabouts.
"A call through to the fire department, and some smooth talking to convince them to come help, as this is the third call out they have had to this naughty kitty, they came out to give us a hand," Lonely Miaow said. "So out came the ladder, but the kitten got frightened and kept moving. So they called in reinforcements with the big ladder on the back of the truck, and up it went."
Video of the attempted rescue shows the kitten leaping from the tree after becoming overwhelmed with the presence of the ladders and firefighters.
"Its true that cats always land on their feet, he was a bit like a flying fox!" the association said. "He hit the ground running!"
Once on the ground the kitten ran off and attempted to escape capture, but was ultimately brought in by the rescue group.
"He was launched after by several firefighters who he managed to elude, and then our cat rescuer Mel with a fishing net set off in hot pursuit," Lonely Miaow said. Chased the kitten under two fire trucks, and across the road, managed to corner him in the corner of a house, and nabbed him with the net!"
