Cat rescued after being trapped underground for 5 days

By Elizabeth Hunter

A missing cat has been reunited with its owner - after being trapped for five days underneath a block of flats.

Residents heard the cat's cries from the foundations of the flats in Dundee, Scotland.

Animal Rescue Officers Stephanie Smillie and Lucy Rattray discovered Cleo, a 15-year-old Bengal, was stuck five feet underground and began a rescue.

Scottish SPCA's Stephanie said: “Cleo had been there for over five days with no access to food or water, so 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 realized 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 of 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.

“We scanned her for a microchip, only to run into another challenge – the chip’s details were outdated, and it listed an address in England!

“But 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 vet 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.”