For Immediate Release
March 5, 2008

Twice delivered, UCR’s celebrity cat finds new home

By Joan Kite

What does it take to get a small cat extricated from a 3-inch crevice after being stuck there for four days?

Four Riverside County firefighters attempted to pull the cat out of the crevice using long poles, grease and a rescue snare.

Five hours, three animal services workers, eight fire fighters, one UCR Extension dean, countless helpers from UCR’s Physical Plant department, two cups of grease and several makeshift tools.

And the hapless critter still managed to escape – again.

The long-haired calico was spotted on Leap Day running into a craggy corridor situated between the walls of a parking structure located behind UCR Extension. Over the course of the weekend, the cat managed to trap itself about 12 to 15 feet back from the entrance, its tiny head wedged between the two rocky surfaces.

Katrina Oskie, cultural activities coordinator at UCR Extension, perceiving the feline’s pitiful plight Monday morning, called Riverside County Animal Services.

With rescue tools in hand, the animal service workers struggled to retrieve the cat. They decided to bring in the big guns, calling in Riverside County firefighters. The firefighters also had no luck despite the cooking grease they used to hopefully slide the cat from her concrete prison. Finally, UCR Extension Dean Sharon Duffy intervened and requested aid from Physical Plant.

UCR Electricians provided a sturdy metal pole transformed into a makeshift hook long enough to reach the cat. Moments later, animal services worker Michelle Rousseau hauled the cat, wailing and screeching, covered in dirt and grease, into liberty. She quickly caged the kitty for her trip to the animal shelter.

Ultimately, Riverside County Animal Services worker Michelle Rousseau, who spent five hours rescuing the cat, was able to tug Miss Kitty out of the crevice using a long, metal pole with a hook on the end.

Unfortunately, Rousseau dropped the cage, the door sprung up and the cat sprung to freedom.

The next day, UCR students, unaware of the cat’s newfound celebrity status (its rescue and subsequent escape had made the local newspaper, several television stations and at least one Web site) found the skinny kitty and redelivered her to Animal Services.

The cat has been treated, bathed and vaccinated. It will be spayed and turned over to its new adopted mommy, UCR Extension’s grant writer Suzanne Hartzell.

"I'm going to name her Katrina after her rescuer and the hurricane," Hartzell said. "Because she's a survivor." Katrina will be called "Kat" for short.