It took the combined efforts of the Constantia Fire Brigade and the SPCA this week to rescue a cat which had spent nearly 36 hours trapped in a narrow space between two concrete walls in Diep River.
The 13-year-old ginger Tom cat named Chassis was eventually freed and reunited with its owner, Nikki Karassellos, of Avon Road, after a sledge hammer was used to break open a hole in the one wall.
The drama began on Sunday evening (24 January) when the cat went missing. A frantic search of the area on Monday revealed no trace of Chassis.
Local residents were asked to search their premises for the cat which was thought might have become trapped in a garage or vacant storeroom.
On Tuesday morning while searching for the cat, Nikki and her partner, Brent Kelly (co-owner of the cat), stopped their car outside a residential garage entrance in Avon Road when they heard a distinct cry for help. Their joy was short lived, however, when it was found that Chassis was firmly wedged in a space approximately 14 cm wide and couldn’t move.
A hole was eventually knocked through the one wall and Werner Taljaard of the SPCA was able to reach through the narrow gap and pull the cat out. A visit to the local vet resulted in Chassis being given fluids via his neck, as well as antibiotic and anti-inflammatory medicine. It was agreed that the cat should go back home immediately where he recovered from his traumatic experience after a marathon sleep.
Nikki, in thanking the Fire Brigade and the SPCA, added that the care and understanding shown by the staff of the two organisations was “really outstanding” and was genuinely appreciated.
This was not the first time Chassis had been rescued. He got his rather odd name after being found as a stray kitten under a car in a garage. It can now be said that Chassis has used two of his nine lives!
