Our neighbours got two kittens about nine months ago

They’re still young, playful, adventurous, and just old enough to start exploring the big wide world

With the warm weather we’ve been enjoying in the UK, we’ve had our doors and windows open to let in the breeze

To be clear, we don’t try to entice their cats over, they’re not ours, after all

But one of them decided to wander into our house anyway

I think our movements startled it because instead of bolting back out the door, it panicked and went up. And up

Living in a four-storey townhouse in London, this wasn’t the best idea

The poor thing ran to the top floor, squeezed out of an open window… and suddenly found itself clinging to the guttering

Thankfully, it hadn’t fallen, but it was stuck, terrified, and crying for help

We tried coaxing it back in, but it wouldn’t budge

So we called next door and told them their cat was in peril

They rushed over with food and kind words, but nothing worked

In the end, they made the call every cat owner dreads: they rang the fire brigade

Because the cat was hanging from the back of the house, the crew couldn’t use their usual ladders, they simply wouldn’t fit in our garden without causing serious damage

Undeterred, the firefighters quickly put their heads together and came up with a creative solution.

In true teamwork fashion, they lowered one firefighter down from the roof as two colleagues held onto his legs

Another stood ready to grab the frightened feline. (Yes, we have a photo!)

I’m happy to report that the rescue mission was a success

The cat was safely returned to its owner, albeit a little shaken

And if cats wore trousers (or “pants” as our American friends say), let’s just say this one would have needed a fresh pair…