Episode Description
What do you do when a cat climbs higher than a ladder—or a fire truck—can reach?
In this episode, we’re joined by Duane Hook, a professional tree climber and founder of Cat In A Tree Rescue. Since 2010, Duane has been combining expert arborist techniques with a deep love for animals to bring stranded cats back to solid ground.
Duane walks us through the high-pressure world of canopy rescues, from managing "indoor-only" escape artists to handling senior and feral cats in dense woods. We dive into the specialized safety gear and low-stress techniques required to keep everyone safe when the stakes (and the branches) are high.
In This Episode:
- The Art of the Rescue: How Duane uses modern ropes and safety gear to protect the cat and the tree.
- Calm in the Canopy: Techniques for reducing fear and stress for animals trapped in high-altitude environments.
- Treetop Stories: From backyard maples to "unclimbable" city trees, Duane shares his most memorable missions.
Connect with Duane Hook:
- Cat In A Tree Rescue getmeowtahere.com
- To donate to Duane: venmo.com/u/getmeowtahere
Support the Show:
- Official Merch: Shop Shelter Cats Podcast gear at sheltercatspod.com.
- Chewy Affiliate: Help support local shelters and this podcast by making your pet purchases through our Chewy Give Back link.
- Follow Michelle (The Meow Maven): Catch her journey on TikTok.
The Team:
- Hosts: Dan "The Cat Man" & Michelle "The Meow Maven"
- Executive Producer: Stephen Quandt (catbehaviorhelp.com)
- Editor: Jacob Haley
Questions or Comments? Email us at: dan@tylerthecat.com or sheltercatspodcast@gmail.com.