Cat left stranded in dangerous predicament

A Carson City cat is in a precarious position.

Animal Control officers responded to a call that a cat was stranded on a 50-foot pole for high-voltage power lines off Roop Street.

Pat Wiggins, supervisor for Animal Control, said he called the fire department Thursday and was referred to NV Energy.

He said the power company sent a representative out, but called back to say they could not climb the pole.

"They said it was 120,000 volts and it was too dangerous," Wiggins said.

Susan Antipa first spotted the feline Wednesday morning on her drive to work. Although Roop Street is not her normal route, she said she had some errands to run before work.

"I tend to look at power poles because I look for hawks," she said. "At first I thought I saw a hawk, then it sat up and it was a kitty."

She said she reported the cat to the power company Thursday morning and called again Thursday evening. She said she was told power would have to be diverted from that line and a truck with a high enough ladder would need to be brought down from Reno in order to save the cat.

"I guess the expense isn't worth their while," she said.

Representatives from NV Energy were not available for comment Thursday.

She considered taking her normal route to work Thursday morning, but couldn't.

"I just had to see if the cat was still there, and it was," she said. "I just don't know how long it can survive. I feel horrible."

Wiggins said he doesn't know what else to do.

"It's way beyond our scope," he said.

As a general rule, he said, Animal Services does not climb up after cats because the cat will usually climb higher or jump out. This cat, stranded between two power lines, is in a particularly dangerous spot.

"If the cat moves, my guess is it's going to be fried," Wiggins said.

However, there is hope.

"Cats can withstand a tremendous fall," he said. "One of my officers saw a cat jump 80 feet from a pine tree because they went up after it, and it ran away."

And there is a chance the problem could resolve itself.

"He climbed up, he can climb down," Wiggins said. "He's got the ability to do that. He just needs the courage."

- Contact reporter Teri Vance at tvance@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1272.