Lymington cat trapped in patio table freed by firefighters

Charlotte AndrewsBBC News
News imageHampshire Fire Service two firefighters and a woman holding a catHampshire Fire Service
Holly the cat was unhappy and in pain, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service said

A tortoiseshell cat whose claws became trapped in a patio table has been rescued by firefighters.

Crews from Lymington, Hampshire, arrived at a property in Paddock Gardens on Wednesday evening to find the animal, called Holly, in distress.

Firefighters used a saw to free the 17-year-old moggy's leg from the table and she was handed back to her owners with "all nine lives intact".

The service returned later to conduct a home fire safety visit.

News imageHampshire Fire Service cat's pink paws being freed by a ring-cutterHampshire Fire Service
On-call firefighters used a ring-cutter to free the feline's claws

Lymington Fire Station's watch manager Bob Patton said the crews had to improvise with the equipment already on the fire engine.

He said: "Our ring cutters were the perfect tool to free Holly as they're designed to protect the person whilst being used.

"Understandably Holly wasn't happy initially due to her paw being trapped, but she was well behaved as we worked to free her."

News imageHampshire Fire Service tortoiseshell cat being held while firefighters use tools to free her from mesh-looking materialHampshire Fire Service
Crews had to think on their feet to rescue Holly
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